§  Anna Kwok Fights Back After Father’s 8‑Month Sentence

§  Anna Kwok Speaks Out After Father’s Prison Sentence

§  “Hong Kong jailed my dad to stop me speaking out,” says exiled activist Anna Kwok

§  Her father was jailed for 8 months under Hong Kong’s national security law for an insurance policy

§  Read how Hong Kong is using transnational repression against activists abroad, Follow and share The Daily Hints

Mandi Chatterjee, China: “Hong Kong jailed my dad to stop me speaking out,” says Anna Kwok, a 29‑year‑old Hong Kong–born pro‑democracy activist living in the United States. Her father, Kwok Yin‑sang, a 69‑year‑old retiree, was sentenced to eight months in prison for a national security offence – the first time a family member of an activist living abroad has been prosecuted under Hong Kong’s security laws. Kwok claims the case is not about money or crime but about trying to break her voice. Her story has gone viral on social‑media platforms like X (Twitter), Facebook and YouTube, with search terms such as “Hong Kong jailed my dad to stop me speaking out”, “Hong Kong father of activist jailed” and “Hong Kong national security law exiled activists 2026”.

Details & Context

Anna Kwok left Hong Kong in 2020, after the city’s massive pro‑democracy protests and the arrival of Beijing‑imposed national security law. She now lives in the United States and serves as executive director of the Hong Kong Democracy Council, a Washington‑based group that lobbies the US government on Hong Kong affairs. However, Hong Kong police consider her a “wanted activist” and have placed a bounty of HK$1 million (about $127,000) for information leading to her arrest.

On February 26, 2026, a Hong Kong court announced that her father, Kwok Yin‑sang, had been sentenced to eight months in prison for a national security violation. The charge was attempting to handle the financial assets of a “fugitive” – in this case, Kwok’s insurance policy. Her father had tried to withdraw about $11,000 from an insurance policy he had bought for her when she was two years old. Under Hong Kong’s Article 23 law – a local national security law that expands on Beijing’s national security law – this act was treated as a crime.

This case is highly symbolic because it is the first time a family member of an activist based abroad has been jailed for a national security offence. Critics say it marks a new level of pressure on overseas activists: instead of just targeting the exiles themselves, authorities are now going after their parents, siblings and relatives. The Hong Kong government denies this, claiming that its actions “have nothing to do with political stance, background or occupation” and that all accused have the right to a fair trial.

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Quotes

i.                 Anna Kwok has been very vocal on X (Twitter) and interviews about her father’s case

·       “My father’s case really shows how political freedom is reaching a new low in Hong Kong,” she told the BBC.

·       “Hong Kong’s government definitely wants to silence me. They want me to stop speaking out. And of course they have failed. I’m speaking to you now.”

·       “This is transnational repression. They are punishing my father just because he is my father.”

ii.               Human rights groups also reacted strongly

·       Amnesty International: Called the case a “disturbing escalation” in Hong Kong’s use of national security laws.

·       Human Rights Watch: Said the conviction of Kwok’s father is a “grim milestone” in Beijing’s campaign of transnational repression.

iii.             On social media, the story exploded with posts like

·       “Hong Kong jails father of an activist to stop her speaking out. This is how far they are willing to go.” – X user.

·       “China’s playbook in Hong Kong: punishment by family. Pure intimidation.” – Facebook post.

·       “If they can jail a 69‑year‑old over a child’s insurance policy, who is safe?” – YouTube commenter.

iv.             President Xi Jinping: “Corruption is the biggest threat to the Communist Party – the battle remains grave and complex.” (From his recent speeches on anti-corruption.)

v.               NPC Standing Committee statement: “19 officials, including nine from the military, removed from lawmaker list – no further details provided.”

vi.             From X user @ChinaDaily (post on Feb 27, 2026): “China removes 19 officials ahead of Two Sessions – anti-corruption drive continues under Xi.”

vii.           Critic on X @HRW (post on Feb 26, 2026): “Xi’s purges: Anti-corruption or purging rivals? Latest military removals raise questions.”

viii.         State media report: “The removals are part of ongoing efforts to clean the party and military of corrupt elements.”

These quotes show that the phrase “Hong Kong jailed my dad to stop me speaking out” has become a powerful rallying cry for critics of Hong Kong’s crackdown.

Additional Information

Kwok is one of 34 activists wanted by Hong Kong’s national security police. All of them face bounties of HK$1 million for their arrest and many are accused of colluding with foreign forces and inciting secession under the national security law. The law, introduced in 2020, allows authorities to prosecute anyone suspected of acts that endanger national security, including calling for sanctions or advocacy in foreign parliaments.

Article 23, the local national security law under which Kwok’s father was charged, was passed in 2024 and expanded the government’s powers. It criminalizes any attempt to deal with funds or assets of “absconders” – the term used for people wanted over national security offences. This is why Kwok’s father’s effort to access an old insurance policy led to a prison sentence.

Beyond Kwok’s family, Hong Kong police have summoned or questioned dozens of relatives of activists living abroad. Reports show that since 2023, police have questioned at least 50 family members of 19 “absconders,” ranging from immediate family to cousins and in‑laws. Even pro‑Beijing figures have not been spared. In 2023, pro‑Beijing lawmaker Eunice Yung was questioned over her father‑in‑law, Elmer Yuen, a US‑based activist wanted under national security law.

Another activist, Carmen Lau, living in the UK, reported that her aunts and uncle were taken in by Hong Kong police to “assist with investigations.” Around the same time, her neighbors in the UK received letters offering £95,000 for anyone who would hand her over to the Chinese embassy. The US and UK governments have condemned these bounties as a form of transnational repression.

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READ MORE: China has removed nine officials. This happened before an important political meeting. They might have done something. China has an anti-corruption drive

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Impact Analysis

The case of Anna Kwok and her father has several important implications

i.                 Expansion of National Security Laws

·       The Hong Kong government is using the national security law and Article 23 to target not just activists but also their families.

·       This creates a chilling effect: many Hong Kongers abroad are now afraid to speak up, fearing retaliation against relatives back home.

ii.               Transnational Repression

·       The case is part of a broader trend of transnational repression, where China uses bounties, summoning relatives and harassment to silence critics living overseas.

·       It has raised alarm among human rights groups and governments in the US, UK and EU.

iii.             Public Image of Hong Kong

·       Domestically, the government frames these actions as necessary for stability and security.

·       Internationally, they are seen as authoritarian tactics that erode Hong Kong’s freedoms and autonomy.

·       This could damage Hong Kong’s reputation as a financial and business hub.

iv.             Psychological Warfare

·       Kwok’s father’s prosecution is a psychological tactic meant to pressure her into silence.

·       It may also deter other activists from joining or supporting pro‑democracy groups.

Conclusion

The case of “Hong Kong jailed my dad to stop me speaking out” highlights the deepening repression in Hong Kong under Beijing’s rule. By jailing a 69‑year‑old father over an insurance policy, the government is sending a clear message to activists abroad: even your family is not safe. For Anna Kwok, this conviction is both a personal tragedy and a political statement. She continues to speak out but her struggle reflects the broader crisis of free speech and human rights in Hong Kong.

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