National security police ‘take away’ family members of wanted Hong Kong activists for questioning
Hong Kong Free Press
Hong Kong national security police have questioned seven relatives and acquaintances of two wanted activists, in the latest move against eight overseas-based pro-democracy figures for whom arrests warrants and HK$1 million bounties were issued.
It was the latest such action against their families after officers on July 11 raided the homes of Nathan Law’s mother, father and brother and took the three away for investigation. The three were released after giving statements.
Media reports said police on Thursday morning “took away” two men and two women for investigation, including the brother of Dennis Kwok. In addition, the brother, brother-in-law and nephew of Mung Siu-tat were taken from their home in Sha Tin on Tuesday.
The reports said Kwok’s brother was later released from Western Police Station but the status of the others was not clear.
Police told HKFP that the Police National Security Department took away two men and a woman for investigation in Shatin on Tuesday and took away two men and two women for investigation in Kowloon and Hong Kong Island on Thursday.
“They are all suspected of assisting persons wanted by Police to continue commit acts and engage in activities that endanger national security. Investigation is underway and further operations, including arrest, may be made.”
Kwok, a former member of the defunct pro-democracy Civic Party, announced on social media two years ago that he had left Hong Kong with his family and was now a lawyer based in the US.
Mung is the former chief executive of the defunct pro-democracy Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions. He established a new NGO called Hong Kong Labour Rights Monitor in the UK following his self-exile.
Mung’s relatives were questioned about the whereabouts of the exiled activist and whether they had had contact with him or offered any financial support, Sing Tao Daily reported. They were not arrested and were released after giving statements.
According to the law, citizens have the right to choose whether to cooperate with a police investigation and whether to accompany police to a designated place for investigation.
HKFP has reached out to police for information on whether the seven were “taken away” voluntarily but has yet to receive a response.
Contacts and allies of the wanted
Apart from Kwok and Mung, ex-lawmaker Ted Hui; activists Nathan Law, Anna Kwok, Elmer Yuen, and Finn Lau; and solicitor Kevin Yam are wanted over alleged national security offences.
Security minister Chris Tang has said police would try to trace the suspects’ “contacts, allies and [people] funding them behind the scenes.”
“Anyone who assists, incites or funds those people to endanger national security in Hong Kong and [mainland China] may breach the law,” Tang told media on July 5.
The police have since taken a series of actions in Hong Kong to trace alleged local connections of the eight.
Five people, reportedly ex-members of former pro-democracy party Demosisto, were apprehended in early July in connection with an alleged conspiracy to provide financial support to Law, a founding member of Demosisto.
The five, who worked for an app named Mee promoting pro-democracy businesses, were released on bail. The app went offline after the arrests.
On July 13, police raided the home of Derek Lam, a former member of Demosisto.
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