BREAKING: Parents of wanted overseas Hong Kong activist Anna Kwok questioned by national security police – reports

Hong Kong Free Press

Hong Kong national security police have taken the parents of a wanted activist for questioning, marking the latest move in authorities’ investigation of eight overseas pro-democracy figures issued with arrest warrants and HK$1 million bounties.

Anna Kwok Fung-yee listed as one of the eight pro-democracy activists wanted by the national security police. She is accused of collusion with foreign forces endangering national security. Photo: Kelly Ho/HKFP.

The parents of US-based Anna Kwok were taken to a police station on Tuesday morning, local media outlets reported.

HKFP has reached out to the police for comment.

Wanted self-exiled democrats

On July 3, national security police announced arrest warrants for eight overseas democrats, including Kwok, accusing them of calling for sanctions against local officials and scheming for foreign countries to undermine Hong Kong’s status as a financial centre. A reward of HK$1 million is being offered for each.

The posters about the eight democrats wanted by the national security police on a notice board — Wanted posters for the eight democrats on a notice board at a public housing estate in Hong Kong in July 2023. Photo; Kyle Lam/HKFP.

Police also named businessman Elmer Yuen; ex-lawmakers Ted Hui and Dennis Kwok; activists Nathan Law, Mung Siu-tat and Finn Lau; and solicitor Kevin Yam. The democrats are now based abroad, including in Australia, the US and the UK.

Chief Executive John Lee and pro-establishment parties have voiced support for the warrants. At a press conference, Lee invited “anyone” – including the friends and family members of those wanted – to assist in their arrests.

“The government will exhaust all lawful means to apprehend criminals endangering national security… [we] will pursue them for the rest of our lives even if they run to the ends of the earth,” said the chief executive.

Activist groups and Western countries have decried the move. The US, where a number of the wanted democrats including Anna Kwok and Yuen are based, said the exterritorial application of the Beijing-enacted law was a “dangerous precedent that threatens the human rights and fundamental freedoms of people all over the world.”

This is a developing story – refresh for updates…