Hong Kong authorities have escalated their efforts to silence exiled democracy activists by targeting their families and former colleagues. Human rights organizations have condemned the interrogation of the family members and associates of Chung Kim-wah, a prominent democracy campaigner who is currently living in exile in the United Kingdom. The move is seen as an attempt to intimidate individuals beyond the reach of Hong Kong’s legal system, according to critics.
Chung Kim-wah, a former pollster and scholar, is one of 19 exiled activists who have been placed on a wanted list, with a bounty of one million Hong Kong dollars (£103,000) offered for their capture. The Hong Kong government has accused Chung and his fellow activists of violating the controversial national security law, which was imposed by Beijing in 2020.
As reported by The Times UK, Chung’s recent meeting with David Lammy, the UK’s foreign secretary, in London has further angered Hong Kong authorities, who have labeled the UK as a haven for “fugitives.” In response, police in Hong Kong have summoned Chung’s wife, son, three siblings, and three former colleagues for questioning, fueling concerns over the rising pattern of harassment aimed at activists and their families.
Benedict Rogers, co-founder of the UK-based Hong Kong Watch, described the targeting of relatives and friends as part of a broader strategy to silence critics abroad. “It is outrageous that relatives and friends are being targeted as part of the attempts to silence exiled political activists, but it is now becoming routine practice,” he said. Rogers also highlighted the increasing repression in Hong Kong, which has rapidly transformed from one of Asia’s most open cities to one of its most repressive police states under the national security law.
The national security law, enacted by Beijing after large-scale protests in 2019, criminalizes terrorism, separatism, subversion, and collusion with foreign powers. Critics argue that the law’s broad and vague definitions give authorities wide discretion in prosecuting dissenters. This year, the law was further supplemented by local legislation covering additional offences such as treason, sedition, and espionage.
Chung Kim-wah, who was the deputy director of the Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute, played a pivotal role in revealing public dissatisfaction with the pro-Beijing government through well-regarded polls. His work frequently highlighted widespread opposition to policies backed by the Chinese Communist Party. However, the institute has been denounced as “anti-China” by pro-Beijing media, and several of its employees have faced questioning by authorities.
Chung’s former boss, Robert Chung, the president of the institute, was recently summoned for a second round of questioning, and his home and office were searched. Items were reportedly confiscated in the investigation, with Hong Kong’s security secretary, Chris Tang, stating that police were looking into whether Chung’s organization had assisted the exiled activists. No arrests have been made thus far.
In 2022, Chung Kim-wah left Hong Kong for the UK after reportedly being summoned by police enforcing the national security law. He expressed deep sorrow over leaving his family behind in Hong Kong, a place he had long considered home. On social media, he reflected on his difficult decision, writing, “I was born and raised in Hong Kong. A vast majority of my loved ones are in Hong Kong. I view Hong Kong as the place that cultivated me, and since young I have made it my ambition to contribute to Hong Kong and improve society.”
Chung’s story exemplifies the growing repression of political dissidents in Hong Kong, as Beijing seeks to tighten its grip on the city. The UK’s support for exiled activists like Chung has further strained relations between Hong Kong and the West, with human rights organizations warning that the ongoing crackdown on freedom of expression and dissent poses a serious threat to the city’s autonomy.
