The European Hong Kong Diaspora Alliance (EHKDA) expresses its grave concern and unwavering solidarity with activist Anna Kwok following the deeply troubling reports of the arrests of her father and brother in Hong Kong on the 30th April 2025. Ms. Kwok is the Executive Director of Hong Kong Democracy Council based in Washington, DC. These arrests, linked to alleged national security offences, related to her fight for democracy conducted in exile for the city.

The arrest of Kwok's family showcases a disturbing escalation in the suppression of dissent and the erosion of rule of law in Hong Kong. This tactic, as highlighted in recent reports detailing China's transnational repression efforts, demonstrates a clear attempt to silence overseas critics by targeting their loved ones, who are still residing in Hong Kong. The EHKDA reiterates its firm conviction that the rule of law is one of Hongkongers’ core values, and the arrest of Kwok’s family is an alarming case in affirming that the rule of law no longer applies to the city.

The European Hong Kong Diaspora Alliance strongly condemns the reprehensible act of targeting family members of overseas activists, a common practice in mainland China which is also becoming a usual tactic of the National Security Police in Hong Kong. We stand resolutely with Anna Kwok and everyone who continues to advocate for the promised autonomy and fundamental rights of our homeland. The targeting of activists' families serve as grim evidence of the shrinking space for political freedom in Hong Kong and the long reach of transnational repression.

MEP Engin Eroglu (Renew), Chair of Delegation for relations with the People's Republic of China, says: "The arrest of Anna Kwok's father and brother in Hong Kong is alarming and illustrates the deteriorating human rights situation there. Targeting family members in order to silence activists abroad is unacceptable. The European Union must condemn this intimidation in the strongest possible terms and call for their immediate release. We must also consider further measures to support Hong Kong's fundamental freedoms."

​

The General Secretary of the EHKDA, Amy Siu, comments: "The targeting of Anna Kwok's loved ones should serve as a stark reminder: the erosion of Hong Kong's freedoms is not confined to Hong Kong. We stand in unwavering solidarity with Anna and call on the EU to hold those responsible for these acts of intimidation accountable on the international stage."

In light of this alarming development, the European Hong Kong Diaspora Alliance renews its call on the European Union and its Member States to take concrete actions, including:

 

• Condemning the targeting of family members of overseas activists as a form of transnational repression, and taking concrete measures to protect the Hong Kong diaspora community from transnational repression.

• Strengthening public advocacy by raising the issue of family targeting in international forums, such as the United Nations and G7, to hold the Hong Kong and Chinese governments accountable for their breaches of international obligations and fundamental principles of justice. 

 

Defending these fundamental principles is not only a moral imperative in solidarity with the people of Hong Kong, but also crucial for upholding the global commitment to human rights, democracy, and the rule of law in the face of increasing transnational repression.

 

6 May 2025

 

Signed by:

Befria Hongkong (Sweden)

Finnish Hongkongers (Finnland)

Freiheit für Hongkong (Germany)

Hong Kong Committee in Norway (Norway)

Hongkongi Maja (Estonia)

Netherlands for Hong Kong (The Netherlands)

PL4HK (Poland)

Støt Hong Kong (Denmark)

 

Coordinated by:

The European Hong Kong Diaspora Alliance