One of fugitive's ex-wives, along with daughter, son, questioned

One of fugitive Elmer Yuen Gong-yi's ex-wives as well as their son and daughter have been questioned by national security officers, sources say.

Yuen, 74, was one of eight politicians and activists wanted as national security suspects. Each has a HK$1 million bounty for their arrest.

Yuen is accused of subversion and collusion with foreign forces.

Stephanie Downs and her son and daughter with Yuen - Paul Yuen and Madeline Yuen - were taken from their homes to Wan Chai and Western police stations yesterday, sources said.

It is understood that officers asked whether they are in contact or have had money dealings with Elmer Yuen.

Downs and Paul Yuen left Wan Chai police station and took a taxi without answering media questions. Madeline Yuen was taken to Western police station and also released.

Downs, the second wife, and Yuen married in 1989 but split after eight years. For the divorce, the High Court ordered Yuen to pay Downs US$10 million (HK$78 million) in February 2001.

It is understood Yuen has been married four times, the latest to a Japanese. He has a total of six children, with four of them already questioned.

The police warrant says between July 2022 and May 2023, "Yuen launched a referendum in order to form a body of power named 'The Hong Kong Parliament,' with a view to achieving self-determination and subverting the state power."

Yuen's daughter Mimi Yuen Mi-wahng and son Derek Yuen Mi-chang, a political analyst, as well as estranged daughter-in-law Eunice Yung Hoi-yan, a lawmaker, were taken in to assist police investigation last week.

Mimi Yuen, executive director of beauty and health products retailer Mi Ming Mart, was questioned right after she returned from Los Angeles on July 24.

Yung said a dozen officers showed up at her home with a search warrant at 7am on the same day.

She was taken to Western police station for a video interview that lasted nearly three hours. Yung said she told officers she did not know of Elmer Yuen's whereabouts, residential address and phone number.

Yung said she cut ties with her father-in-law last August. She urged him to turn himself in.

Both Mimi Yuen and Derek Yuen are from Elmer Yuen's first marriage with Tania Ying Ka-kwok. Their younger sister Erica Yuen Mi-ming moved to Canada with her husband in 2021.

Derek Yuen earlier admitted that he briefly chatted with his father while visiting the United States in June, but he said they did not talk about any political subjects.

wallis.wang@singtaonewscorp.com