Latest news with #HKDC
Epoch Times
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
Hong Kong Police Arrest 2 Family Members of Wanted Democracy Activist Kwok Fung-Yee
Hong Kong authorities have arrested the father and a brother of U.S.-based pro-democracy activist Kwok Fung-yee, and laid charges against the father, marking the first time that the family of an exiled dissident has been criminally charged under the city's sweeping national security laws. Kwok Fung-yee (Anna Kwok), 28, resides in the United States and serves as the executive director of the Washington-based Hong Kong Democracy Council (HKDC). In July 2023, she was placed on a The two family members were arrested on April 30 in Tseung Kwan O for the alleged violations of the National Security Ordinance and the Criminal Offences Ordinance. On May 2, the 68-year-old Kwok Yin-sang, Kwok Fung-yee's father, appeared in West Kowloon Magistrates' Court and was charged with 'attempting to directly or indirectly manage funds or assets belonging to an absconder.' His case was adjourned to June 13, and he remains in custody. Multiple Hong Kong media outlets Related Stories 4/21/2025 4/14/2025 Under the National Security Ordinance, handling an absconder's funds or assets carries a maximum penalty of seven years imprisonment upon conviction. The defense counsel argued that the key legal question hinges on whether the assets in question truly belonged to the daughter or to father Kwok himself. Kwok Fung-yee's 35-year-old brother was granted bail pending further investigation on the same charge. He has not been formally charged. The arrests signal an escalation in efforts to target overseas critics by extending pressure to their relatives at home, being the first time the family member of a wanted individual has faced formal charges in Hong Kong. Hong Kong authorities have increasingly summoned relatives and associates of wanted individuals for questioning, signaling heightened enforcement actions on overseas activists. In January 2025, national security police raided the Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute, previously affiliated with wanted scholar Chung Kim-wah. The institute's chairman, Chung Ting-yiu, and two staff members were detained for investigation. In February, the aunt and uncle of former district councilor Carmen Lau Ka-man were brought to a police station for questioning. In March, the stepfather of Tony Chung, an activist exiled in the UK, was also taken for investigation. Since the implementation of the National Security Law in 2020, Hong Kong's Ministry of National Security has issued wanted notices for at least 19 exiled residents.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hong Kong police arrest family of pro-democracy activist, reports say
Police in Hong Kong have arrested the father and brother of US-based pro-democracy activist Anna Kwok for allegedly helping with her finances, according to media reports. It is the first time the relatives of an "absconder" have been charged under the territory's security law, Reuters news agency said. The authorities accused Ms Kwok, 26, of breaching Hong Kong's national security laws after participating in pro-democracy protests in 2019. She fled the territory in 2020 and now serves as the Executive Director of the Hong Kong Democracy Council (HKDC), an organisation based in Washington DC. Police said they had arrested two men aged 35 and 68 on suspicion of handling "funds or other financial assets" belonging to Kwok, Reuters said. Local media later identified the two men as relatives of Ms Kwok, citing police sources. According to a report by the South China Morning Post (SCMP), police launched an investigation into the pair after observing they had met Ms Kwok overseas. The 68-year-old, identified by local media as Ms Kwok's father Kwok Yin-sang, is accused of helping his daughter handle her insurance policy upon his return to Hong Kong. According to a charge sheet seen by Reuters, Kwok Yin-sang had been trying to access Ms Kwok's life and personal accident insurance policy which could be used to obtain funds on her behalf. He has been denied bail by national security judge Victor So at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts, Reuters reported. The 35-year-old man, identified by local media as Ms Kwok's brother, is accused of supporting their father's attempts to retrieve the money, Reuters said. He has reportedly been released on bail pending further investigation. Under Hong Kong's Safeguarding National Security Bill, it is illegal to "make available, directly or indirectly, any funds or other financial assets or economic resources to, or for the benefit of, a relevant absconder". In 2023, Hong Kong placed a bounty on the heads of several pro-democracy activists - including Ms Kwok - who had fled the territory. The eight activists targeted were accused of colluding with foreign forces - a crime that can carry a sentence of life in prison. At the time, Ms Kwok said the bounty was aimed at intimidating her and her fellow activists. "That's exactly the kind of thing the Hong Kong government and the Chinese Communist party would do - which is to intimidate people into not doing anything, silencing them," she told BBC's Newshour at the time. The former British colony became a special administrative region of China in 1997, when Britain's 99-year lease of the New Territories, north of Hong Kong island, expired. Hong Kong still enjoys freedoms not seen in mainland China, but they are widely thought to be on the decline. China accuses UK of harbouring Hong Kong fugitives Hong Kong profile
BBC News
02-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Hong Kong police arrest family of pro-democracy activist, reports say
Police in Hong Kong have arrested the father and brother of US-based pro-democracy activist Anna Kwok for allegedly helping with her finances, according to media is the first time the relatives of an "absconder" have been charged under the territory's security law, Reuters news agency authorities accused Ms Kwok, 26, of breaching Hong Kong's national security laws after participating in pro-democracy protests in fled the territory in 2020 and now serves as the Executive Director of the Hong Kong Democracy Council (HKDC), an organisation based in Washington DC. Police said they had arrested two men aged 35 and 68 on suspicion of handling "funds or other financial assets" belonging to Kwok, Reuters media later identified the two men as relatives of Ms Kwok, citing police to a report by the South China Morning Post (SCMP), police launched an investigation into the pair after observing they had met Ms Kwok 68-year-old, identified by local media as Ms Kwok's father Kwok Yin-sang, is accused of helping his daughter handle her insurance policy upon his return to Hong to a charge sheet seen by Reuters, Kwok Yin-sang had been trying to access Ms Kwok's life and personal accident insurance policy which could be used to obtain funds on her has been denied bail by national security judge Victor So at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts, Reuters 35-year-old man, identified by local media as Ms Kwok's brother, is accused of supporting their father's attempts to retrieve the money, Reuters has reportedly been released on bail pending further 2023, Hong Kong placed a bounty on the heads of several pro-democracy activists - including Ms Kwok - who had fled the territory. The eight activists targeted were accused of colluding with foreign forces - a crime that can carry a sentence of life in the time, Ms Kwok said the bounty was aimed at intimidating her and her fellow activists."That's exactly the kind of thing the Hong Kong government and the Chinese Communist party would do - which is to intimidate people into not doing anything, silencing them," she told BBC's Newshour at the former British colony became a special administrative region of China in 1997, when Britain's 99-year lease of the New Territories, north of Hong Kong island, Kong still enjoys freedoms not seen in mainland China, but they are widely thought to be on the decline.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
DFA Hong Kong Young Design Talent Award 2025: Application is Now Open until 25 June
Empowering the Next GenerationNurturing Innovative Visions from Emerging Designers for Hong Kong HONG KONG, April 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- 'DFA Hong Kong Young Design Talent Award' (DFA HKYDTA), organised by Hong Kong Design Centre (HKDC) since 2005, with Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) as the Lead Sponsor, Hong Kong Design Institute and the School of Design of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University as Sponsors. DFA HKYDTA has been nurturing the talents of young designers in Hong Kong, thereby promoting the advancement of the local creative industry, 2025 edition's application is now open until 26 June 2025. Over the course of over a decade, DFA HKYDTA has celebrated and recognised the outstanding talents of more than 230 young designers from Hong Kong. The programme offers awardees a sponsorship of up to HK$500,000, allowing them to embark on enriching international experiences. Through this initiative, awardees could broaden their perspectives by either gaining 6 to 12 months of work experience at prestigious design firms or pursuing further academic studies for 6 to 18 months at renowned institutions outside Hong Kong. DFA HKYDTA has been instrumental in fostering the growth of young design talent in Hong Kong. By providing substantial sponsorships and international opportunities, it not only recognises their exceptional skills but also empowers them to gain invaluable global experiences. This initiative is a testament to its commitment to nurturing the next generation of designers and driving the evolution of the creative landscape in Hong Kong. Online Application Details Application period: 17 April 2025 (9:00 am) – 25 June 2025 (5:00 pm) (Hong Kong time)Online application: Application Requirements Hong Kong permanent residents aged 18 to 35, who are (1) designers with relevant working experience; or (2) 2025 design graduates with Higher Diplomas, Associate's, Bachelor's or Master's Degrees from accredited local educational institutions; or (3) 2025 design graduates with Master's Degrees obtained from accredited educational institutions outside Hong Kong, and Bachelor's Degrees completed locally under accredited local educational institutions. Every applicant needs to be nominated by a design-related organisation or professional. Judging Criteria A judging panel comprised of locally and internationally recognised professional designers and experts will assess the candidates based on their (1) potential contributions to the design and innovation development in Hong Kong; (2) personal aspirations, talents and achievements in specific fields with potential for continuous development; (3) effectiveness of communication and presentation skills; (4) portfolio of design works; and (5) proposals of working or studying outside Hong Kong. DFA Hong Kong Young Design Talent Award 2024 The 'DFA Hong Kong Young Design Talent Award 2024' has conferred awards to 17 young designers in total. Among them, 13 awardees entitle a sponsorship totalling up to HK$5,000,000 for work or study outside Hong Kong. Visit our website and social media pages for more information: Website: DFA设计奖YouTube: About DFA Hong Kong Young Design Talent Award ( Established in 2005, DFA Hong Kong Young Design Talent Award, one of the programmes of 'DFA Awards' organised by Hong Kong Design Centre, aims to support and nurture Hong Kong's up-and-coming designers and design graduates aged 18 to 35. Awardees may receive sponsorship to work in renowned design companies or study in institutes outside Hong Kong to unleash their potential and contribute to Hong Kong's design and creative industries upon their return. About Hong Kong Design Centre ( Hong Kong Design Centre is a strategic partner of the HKSAR Government in leveraging the city's East-meets-West advantage to create value from design. To achieve our goals we: Cultivate a design culture Bridge stakeholders to opportunities that unleash the value of design Promote excellence in various design disciplines About Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency ( The Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) established in June 2024, formerly known as Create Hong Kong (CreateHK), is a dedicated office set up by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau to provide one-stop services and support to the cultural and creative industries with a mission to foster a conducive environment in Hong Kong to facilitate the development of arts, culture and creative sectors as industries. Its strategic foci are nurturing talent and facilitating start-ups, exploring markets, promoting cross-sectoral and cross-genre collaboration, promoting the development of arts, culture and creative sectors as industries under the industry-oriented principle, and promoting Hong Kong as Asia's creative capital and fostering a creative atmosphere in the community to implement Hong Kong's positioning as the East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange under the National 14th Five-Year Plan. Disclaimer: The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region provides funding support to some of HKDC's activities/projects only, and does not otherwise take part in such funded activities/projects. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication and relevant materials/events (or by members of the project teams) are those of HKDC only and do not reflect the views of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency, the CreateSmart Initiative Secretariat or the CreateSmart Initiative Vetting Committee. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE DFA Hong Kong Young Design Talent Award
