The father of a wanted Hong Kong activist has been granted bail pending a trial under the domestic national security law for allegedly handling an absconder’s financial assets.
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The High Court on Tuesday placed merchant Kwok Yin-sang on HK$200,000 (US$25,562) bail, plus a surety of the same amount to be paid by his son.
The 68-year-old defendant must also adhere to a travel ban, report to police every day and cease all communications with his daughter Anna Kwok Fung-yee, for whose arrest police have offered a HK$1 million reward.
The elder Kwok became the first person to be charged with an offence other than sedition under the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, which was enacted in accordance with a requirement under Article 23 of the Basic Law, the city’s mini-constitution.
He allegedly breached a prohibition against handling an absconder’s financial assets by trying to withdraw money from a life and personal accident insurance policy with AIA International under Anna Kwok’s name. The offence carries a maximum jail sentence of seven years.
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He was remanded in custody on national security grounds after two briefing hearings at West Kowloon Court earlier this month.