Hong Kong police take mother of wanted US-based activist Frances Hui away for questioning – reports

Hong Kong Free Press

Hong Kong national security police took away the mother of wanted US-based activist Frances Hui for questioning a week after they issued an arrest warrant and offered a HK$1 million bounty for her daughter’s arrest, two international news outlets have reported.

The news was reported by Japan’s Nikkei and US-funded Radio Free Asia (RFA) on Wednesday. Nikkei cited sources as saying that Hui’s mother was taken away for questioning about a week after police obtained warrants for the arrests of Hui and four other self-exiled activists.

Hui, the first high-profile activist from Hong Kong to be granted political asylum in the US, is one of 13 activists wanted by Hong Kong police for alleged national security offences and for whom a HK$1 million bounty has been offered.

Police did not confirm that Hui’s mother had been taken for questioning.

national security warrants — Hong Kong national security police issue arrest warrants for five activists on Dec. 14, 2023. Screenshot: Hong Kong Police Force.

“Any action taken by the police will be handled in accordance with the actual situation and in accordance with the law,” they told HKFP in a statement. “The police also hope to take this opportunity to call on anyone wanted to surrender to the police as soon as possible and take responsibility for the actions they have committed.”

Sources told HKFP that Hui’s mother was questioned at a police station a week after authorities announced the bounties. No arrests were made but the family home was searched, a source added.

Earlier last July, the police announced similar bounties and warrants for the arrests of eight other activists. Family members of several of them have been taken in for questioning in Hong Kong before being released.