Pro-Beijing lawmaker Eunice Yung, the daughter-in-law of the wanted overseas activist Elmer Yuen, has said she had her home searched and was later questioned by national security police for nearly three hours on Monday.
It is the latest such action involving the locally-based families of the eight wanted self-exiled democrats. Along with the New People’s Party legislator, businessman Elmer Yuen’s eldest daughter Mimi and his son Derek – Yung’s husband – were also questioned by police on Monday.
“I cooperated with the police and have told them everything I know. I know the police have made up their mind to seek evidence relating to the eight wanted [activists] and I support the police action,” Yung said on Monday afternoon at the legislature, adding that “this incident has not affected my relationship with Derek Yuen so far.”
US-based Elmer Yuen, 74, stands accused of urging foreign countries to impose sanctions on Hong Kong officials and members of the Judiciary via various online platforms between July 2020 and May 2023.
More than ten national security police officers arrived at the home of Derek and Eunice Yung with warrants early on Monday, as their children slept, the lawmaker said. Police searched the home, documents and digital devices: “My two computers and phones were seized by the police for investigation, but the police returned the equipment to me later, ” Yung said.
She left home whilst the police search was ongoing and later “went to police station voluntarily to assist with investigations,” she said. “If I were to find out the whereabouts [of Elmer Yuen], I would definitely disclose it to the police… I am innocent.”
As Elmer Yuen’s daughter-in-law, she publicly severed her relationship with him in 2022. Following the police arrest warrants, Yung said that Elmer Yuen should return to Hong Kong and surrender.
“As a wife, I always want to protect my family, my husband and my two children. Therefore, I kept reminding [Derek Yuen] of not involving himself in any contact with the people suspected of violating the national security law or who are wanted by the police…” Yung said at the legislature.
The National Security Department of the Hong Kong Police Force told HKFP that they took away one man and two women for investigations on Monday. They said the trio were suspected of assisting a fugitive in continuing to engage in acts that endanger national security, adding that operations are still ongoing and there may be other law enforcement actions, including arrests.
The son, Derek, is a former advisor for the pro-establishment New People’s Party and a scholar of international policy. Based in Hong Kong, he told Sing Tao Daily last week that he had “a brief meeting” with his father and has avoided any financial exchanges as he “listened to his wife’s advice.”
As Yung met the press, her husband was still being questioned by police. He left police headquarters at 5:30pm, refusing to answer questions from reporters.
Elmer Yuen’s eldest daughter Mimi Yuen reportedly flew from Los Angeles to Hong Kong, arriving on Monday morning. She was approached by police at around 10am on Hong Kong Island, Sing Tao Daily reported.
Wanted self-exiled democrats
On July 3, national security police announced arrest warrants for eight overseas democrats, accusing them of calling for sanctions against local officials and scheming for foreign countries to undermine Hong Kong’s status as a financial centre.
A reward of HK$1 million is being offered for each of the wanted people, police added.
Last week, national security police took away activist Nathan Law’s mother, father and brother, four family members of former lawmaker Dennis Kwok including his brother, and also the brother, sister-in-law and nephew of Mung Siu-tat for questioning.
Chief Executive John Lee and pro-establishment parties have voiced support for the warrants. At a press conference, Lee invited “anyone” – including the friends and family members of those wanted – to assist in their arrests.
“The government will exhaust all lawful means to apprehend criminals endangering national security… [we] will pursue them for the rest of our lives even if they run to the ends of the earth,” said the chief executive.
Meanwhile, activist groups and Western countries have decried the move. The US, where a number of the wanted democrats including the two Kwoks and Elmer Yuen are based, said the exterritorial application of the Beijing-enacted law was a “dangerous precedent that threatens the human rights and fundamental freedoms of people all over the world.”
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