The US State Department expressed strong condemnation on Friday regarding the ongoing harassment faced by family members of pro-democracy activists living outside Hong Kong. The focus of concern was directed at recent incidents involving prominent activists such as Nathan Law, Joshua Wong, and Elmer Yuen. In these cases, the family members and associates of these activists were subjected to detention and questioning by Hong Kong police.
Spokesperson Matthew Miller emphasized the urgency of the situation, urging Hong Kong authorities to halt all forms of harassment targeting the families of democracy activists. He underscored the gravity of this campaign, which not only seeks to intimidate and silence individuals asserting their human rights but also marks a distressing progression in the erosion of freedoms within Hong Kong. Miller further noted that this pattern of behavior constitutes a method of transnational repression designed to intimidate overseas individuals and coerce their return.
Earlier this year in July, Hong Kong police conducted a search at the family residence of exiled pro-democracy activist Nathan Law, leading to the questioning and temporary detention of his family members. These actions were part of a larger effort that also saw substantial monetary rewards offered for information leading to the arrest of Law and other activists in exile, all wanted on charges related to national security.
Law, who had severed ties with his family in Hong Kong upon seeking asylum in the UK, witnessed his parents and elder brother being taken for questioning on July 11. They were interrogated regarding possible financial support to Law. Eventually, all three were released, as reported by the city's public broadcaster RTHK, citing police sources.
Hong Kong's national security department, in a statement provided to CNN, confirmed the investigation involving two men and a woman, without disclosing their identities. The Hong Kong government, in response to criticisms about the national security law imposed by Beijing in 2020, has consistently refuted claims of stifling freedoms. It contends that the law has effectively curbed chaos and reinstated stability following extensive pro-democracy demonstrations.
The pro-democracy activists, including Law, have faced allegations of violating the national security law, encompassing charges ranging from collaborating with foreign forces to subverting state authority. The US State Department's statement reiterated the importance of upholding the rights and freedoms of individuals within Hong Kong, as guaranteed by the Basic Law and the Sino-British Joint Declaration.
