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Hong Kong police interviewed two parents of actors and journalists Joe Tay in the last case of authorities targeting the family of activists of pro-democracy democracy abroad.
Tay, who lives in Canada, is one of the six pro-democracy activists that the Hong Kong government in December accused of having raped a national security law, offering awards of $ 1 million HK (US $ 130,000) to get help to stop them. The six were accused of crimes, including an incentive to secession, the subversion of state power and collusion with foreign forces.
Tay has been living in Canada since 2020. In 2021, he created a YouTube channel, Hongkongersation, focusing on the repression of the Chinese government in Hong Kong. He recently presented himself, without success, as a candidate of the Conservative Party in the Federal Elections of Canada.
Thursday, officers of the Hong Kong National Security Department attracted the cousin of Tay and the cousin spouse for interrogation, reported Hong Kong Media. After several hours, they were released and escorted by the police.
In response to media requests, Hong Kong police confirmed that two people were summoned on Thursday to help an investigation. They added that the case remains under investigation and that no arrest had been made.
Earlier this month, a 57-year-old male cousin from Tay and the spouse of this cousin were also taken from their homes by the national security police for interrogation and released later.
The authorities allege that Tay, 62, violated the National Security Act by publishing videos and publications promoting Hong Kong independence and the appeal to foreign sanctions against China and Hong Kong, in particular by invoking Magnitsky law – American legislation to sanction human rights abusers – to target Hong Kong officials.
In recent weeks, Hong Kong authorities have interviewed relatives of other accused activists, including the parents of Frances Hui, a defender of democracy based in the United States.
Earlier this month, Hong Kong police made the first official prosecution of a parent from a sought after individual. They charged Anna Kwok's father, Kwok Yin-Sang, to have “tried to manage the assets of an absorbent”, making him the first member of the family pursued under the National Security Act adopted last year. Kwok, 68, was released on bail last week.
Anna Kwok is Executive Director of Hong Kong Democracy Council, a plea group based in Washington.
Edited by Mat Pennington.