Wanted activist Anna Kwok’s father met her daughter for insurance policy handling, court hears

The West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts heard on Wednesday that the father of wanted activist Anna Kwok Fung-yee allegedly attempted to manage his daughter’s insurance policy, leading to his prosecution under Article 23, the city’s homegrown security law.

The case marks the first prosecution for attempting to handle the financial assets of a designated absconder under Article 23, and the first time a fugitive’s family member has faced such charges.

The 68-year-old defendant, Kwok Yin-sang, arrived at court by taxi wearing a gray shirt and pleaded not guilty as his trial began.

A prosecution witness, insurance agent Cheng, told the court that the defendant approached her in January seeking to cancel his daughter’s policy. Cheng said she informed the father that the policyholder’s signature was required. The defendant later claimed he would meet his daughter overseas and, about a month afterward, submitted documents bearing her signature.

The policies in question, valued at nearly HK$90,000 in total, were purchased and fully paid for by the defendant.

The defendant’s 28-year-old daughter, Anna Kwok Fung-yee, is wanted for subversion and collusion with foreign forces to endanger national security. Authorities have offered a HK$1 million reward for information leading to the US-based activist’s arrest.