Hong Kong activist's father convicted

A Hong Kong court found the father of a wanted activist guilty of a national security violation on Wednesday after he tried to end her insurance policy and withdraw the funds, drawing international criticism for the targeting of relatives of pro-democracy campaigners.



Kwok Yin-sang, 69, is the first person to be charged under a Hong Kong law known as Article 23 that expands on a Beijing-imposed national security law, for "attempting to deal with, directly or indirectly, any funds or other financial assets or economic resources" belonging to an absconder.



His daughter, Anna Kwok, helps lead the Washington-based advocacy group Hong Kong Democracy Council, and is one of 34 overseas activists wanted by Hong Kong national security police.



She is accused of colluding with foreign forces and police have offered a bounty of HK$1 million ($127,400) for her arrest.



Kwok Yin-sang was accused of trying to withdraw funds apporximately HK$88000 from an insurance policy which he bought for her when she was almost two years old.



He had pleaded not guilty and did not testify at the trial.



Acting Principal Magistrate Cheng Lim-chi said since Anna Kwok is a fugitive, directly or indirectly handling her insurance policy is illegal.