Families of Wanted Persons In National Security Cases Questioned by Hong Kong Police

Elmer Yuen speaks to The Epoch Times on Oct. 25, 2021. (Hiroshi Nogami/The Epoch Times)

Recently, Hong Kong police issued wanted and reward notices for eight individuals accused of endangering national security. All eight are currently living outside Hong Kong. Since the arrest warrants were issued, 13 family members of the eight wanted persons have been taken away by the police for questioning. Most recently, on July 24, the son, daughter, and daughter-in-law of Elmer Yuen, a prominent pro-democracy figure and co-founder of the overseas “Hong Kong Parliament,” the wanted persons, were each taken into police custody for questioning.

According to Yuen’s daughter-in-law, Legislator Eunice Yung Hoi-yan, she was served with a search warrant at her residence on Monday morning. She was then taken to the Western District Police Station for questioning, during which her laptop and mobile phone were briefly confiscated. After a three-hour video-recorded interview, she was allowed to leave. She pledged full cooperation with the police and promised to disclose any information about Mr. Yuen’s whereabouts.

Later in the afternoon, Yuen’s son, Derek Yuen, emerged from the Wan Chai Police Headquarters and refused to answer questions from the media.

Earlier, Mr. Derek Yuen revealed that he had traveled to Japan and the United States last month and briefly met with his father in Los Angeles. Mr. Derek Yuen said their conversation was casual and did not touch on politics.

It was reported that Elmer Yuen’s daughter, Mimi Yuen Mi-wahng, returned to Hong Kong from Los Angeles in the early hours of July 24. She did not have problems at the immigration but was later taken from her residence for questioning in the morning. At press time, there was no information regarding her release.

Elmer Yuen: Will Never Give Up On Fighting for Universal Suffrage

In the interview with The Epoch Times, Mr. Yuen said that the authorities’ actions were directed at his overseas organization, the Hong Kong Parliament, which “strikes at the heart of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) because it is afraid of the people who are organizing against it.”

Despite the authorities attempt to use his children as leverage, Mr. Yuen firmly stated that he would not surrender and planned to hold a worldwide press conference. He declared “he would continue his fight against the regime and asserted that no amount of pressure or hostage exchange could sway him.”

Elmer Yuen and 7 other Individuals were Prominently placed on Wanted List

On the third anniversary of the implementation of the “Hong Kong National Security Law,” the police prominently placed Mr. Elmer Yuen and seven others on the wanted list, offering a reward of HK$1 million for their capture.

The police accused them of “recklessly endangering national security,” specifically accusing Mr. Yuen of being involved in setting up the “Hong Kong Parliament” with the aim of overthrowing the CCP and Hong Kong authorities.

Mr. Yuen, a 74-year-old industrialist, was one of the first three Hong Kong businessmen chosen by the CCP for business opportunities during its economic reforms in the 1970s. He has founded numerous companies, including Teleart. This company manufactured watches for Casio and was the first Hong Kong-funded company publicly traded in the U.S.

In the aftermath of the 2019 anti-extradition movement, Mr. Yuen shut down all his mainland business operations, expressed his strong opposition to the CCP, and openly stated his goal of “eliminating the Communist Party.”

In 2022, Mr. Yuen, along with several other pro-democracy Hongkongers living overseas, announced the formation of the “Hong Kong Parliament” to hold elections to allow Hongkongers around the world to elect representatives for international advocacy.

Diverse Political Spectrum in Yuen’s Family

While Mr. Yuen takes an anti-Communist stance, his son, Mr. Derek Yuen, aligns with the pro-establishment camp. Mr.Derek Yuen was previously associated with the pro-establishment think tank “Path of Democracy.” Later, he became a key John Tsang’s campaign team member during the 2017 Chief Executive election. Pro-Beijing legislator Regina Ip later recruited him to become the policy director for her party, New People’s Party, and he married fellow party member Ms. Yung. However, during the 2019 anti-extradition movement, Mr. Derek Yuen’s outspoken support for the protesters led to his dismissal from the New People’s Party, exposing the inherent tensions between his pro-establishment affiliations and the pro-democracy sentiment sweeping through the city.

In another twist to the political dynamics, lawmaker Ms. Yung is a staunch supporter of the CCP.  She openly severed her ties to Mr. Elmer Yuen, her father-in-law, after he was accused on Aug. 3, 2022, by the Hong Kong government of violating Article 22 of the “Hong Kong National Security Law,” for his role in setting up the Hong Kong Parliament.

On Aug. 5, Ms. Yung, published a statement in the pro-government media outlet “Oriental Daily” entitled “National Duty and Ending the Father-in-law and Daughter-in-law Relationship.” In the statement, she announced her formal disassociation from Mr. Elmer Yuen and emphasized her duty as a Chinese citizen committed to the greater cause of the nation. Ms. Yung cited the authorities’ allegations of Mr. Elmer Yuen as the basis for her decision to sever family ties.

Police Take Away Family Members of Wanted Individuals, Criticized for Spreading Fear

Since the arrest warrants were issued on July 3 for the eight, the police have been taking away family members and associates of the wanted persons. This has led to public outcry.  The public has criticized the actions of the police as “implication” and “guilt by association.”

On July 5, the police first went to the residence of Joshua Wong’s family in Tung Chung and took his parents and brother for investigation. After giving their statements, they were allowed to leave.

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office Minister, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, criticized this move, stating that targeting family members to spread fear and silence individuals is unacceptable. The UK will not tolerate attempts by the CCP to intimidate and suppress individuals in the UK.

On the same day, the National Security Department arrested four former key members of the “Hong Kong Demosisto” who were allegedly involved in operating the online platform “PunishMee.” The police claimed they were “colluding with foreign or external forces to endanger national security” and “conspiring to incite subversion of state power.” The next day, another employee of “PunishMee” was arrested on the same charges.

On July 18, the National Security Department took away two men and one woman for investigation in the Sha Tin district, accusing them of assisting fugitives in continuing activities that endanger national security. Reports suggested that they were relatives of Mung Siu Tat. They were allowed to leave on the same day.

On the same day, the National Security Department also took two men and two women to the Western Police Station from various districts of Hong Kong and Kowloon for investigation. Among them was Dennis Kwok Wing-hang’s older brother, Michael Kwok, and there were reports that the other three individuals were Michael Kwok’s parents and sister-in-law. Michael Kwok was allowed to leave the Western Police Station around 2 p.m. The police stated that the relevant actions were ongoing, and further arrests were not ruled out.

Recent actions by the police have drawn international criticism for targeting wanted individuals and their family members and associates. Critics accuse the authorities of using this tactic to spread fear and silence dissent.

In light of these developments, the situation in Hong Kong remains highly charged, with tensions between the pro-democracy movement and the pro-establishment camp continuing to escalate. These events’ fallout is expected to significantly impact Hong Kong’s political landscape.