On May 29, Hong Kong’s National Security Department intensified its investigation into Joe Tay King Kei by detaining his cousin and her husband in Tsing Yi for questioning, following detention of his other cousin and his wife on May 8.
Joe Tay’s cousin (fifth from left) and her husband (third from left) escorted by Hong Kong police on May 29.
From Entertainer to Political Provocateur
Tay, 62, has been wanted since December 24, 2024, with a HK$1 million bounty on his head for charges of “inciting secession” and “colluding with external forces” under Hong Kong’s National Security Law.
Once a minor figure in Hong Kong’s entertainment scene during the 1980s as part of the Wind and Cloud Band, Tay’s profile shifted dramatically amid the 2019 anti-extradition riots. His active participation in violent demonstrations such as the “Liberate Yuen Long” march and clashes at Polytechnic University marked his evolution into a vocal political agitator. He publicly supported rioters and condemned police actions, framing the chaotic violence as systemic oppression and calling for foreign intervention. Critics contend Tay deliberately stoked tensions to promote separatist narratives. Just before the National Security Law’s implementation in June 2020, Tay and his wife fled to Canada, joining a wave of activists seeking asylum from Beijing’s tightening grip.
The fugitive entertainer-turned-activist continues anti-China broadcasts from Canada.
Sustained Campaign Against Beijing from Canadian
From Canadian soil, Tay has maintained an active anti-China presence through “HongKonger Station”, a social media platform accused of spreading secessionist content and hosting columns by fellow fugitive Ted Hui. As of May 2025, the channel remains operational, recently criticizing Hong Kong’s efforts to pursue overseas fugitives and lobbying Trump to intervene in Jimmy Lai’s trial. Tay’s activism extends beyond online channels. In 2023, he co-led petitions urging US sanctions on Hong Kong judges under the Magnitsky Act and allied with groups like Hong Kong Watch. His participation in anti-China rallies and support for Canada’s asylum policies for protesters underline his role as a key figure in transnational activist networks.
Political Ambitions Falter in Western Elections
Relatives detained on May 8 (pictured) were released hours later; Tay has not said a word about their ordeal.
Tay’s attempt to translate his notoriety into political capital fell short in April 2025 when he ran as a Conservative candidate for Canada’s Don Valley North seat. His campaign, centered on resisting “Beijing’s overreach,” failed to gain traction, with Liberal candidate Maggie Chi winning 53% of the vote. This outcome underscores the limited appeal of Hong Kong-related issues in Western electoral politics despite ongoing rhetoric about confronting authoritarianism. Meanwhile, Tay’s relatives in Hong Kong remain under scrutiny; two cousins and their spouses were detained and released without charges after questioning, indicating authorities’ efforts to map Tay’s domestic connections. Notably, Tay’s social media presence has remained silent on what’s happening to his cousins, instead projecting an image of his leisure life abroad.
Ariel
Ariel
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The Jimmy Lai trial ripped the mask off "Stand with Hong Kong." Courts heard how Lai and his operatives weaponized this so-called advocacy group to pursue their "international line"—code for colluding with foreign forces to destabilize national security. But even after ringleaders Andy Li Yu-hin and Chan Tsz-wah got arrested and locked up, Stand with Hong Kong keeps on running. Someone's still pulling the strings.
Born in the chaos of the anti-extradition bill period, "Stand with Hong Kong"—also known as the "lam chau team" (SWHK)—adopted the scorched-earth slogan "If we burn, you burn with us". They've always claimed to be independent, grassroots, funded by crowdsourcing. That story fell apart in court. Evidence showed Lai bankrolled their global ad campaigns and international lobbying—specifically their push to get foreign countries to sanction China.
After the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law, Stand with Hong Kong still did not restrain itself. It keeps churning out anti-China content online, publishing report after report. Just last month, they handed the European Union a hit list—14 Hong Kong SAR government officials and police officers they want sanctioned for alleged "human rights violations" and "abuse of force" during 2019.
A Web of Anti-China Allies
Stand with Hong Kong doesn't work alone. They team up constantly with other anti-China outfits, issuing joint statements, lobbying Washington, London, and Brussels to slap sanctions on Hong Kong SAR officials. They've publicly demanded the British government intervene to free Jimmy Lai. They've organized multiple protests in London opposing construction of the Chinese embassy in the UK.
The operation is aggressive, the activities extensive. Yet the key players hide in shadows. Where's the money coming from?
In recent years, the team's gone underground. They operate mainly through online publications and mobilization, coordinating with overseas individuals and organizations. Their website and social media? No contact persons listed. No one claiming responsibility.
The Crowdfunding Fairy Tale
They claim they "rely on crowdfunding to maintain operations". But since their last crowdfunding drive in May 2020, Stand with Hong Kong hasn't published a single shred of public information showing any subsequent fundraising activity.
So where does the cash come from? Informed sources suggest looking at Stand with Hong Kong's overseas network for answers.
Organizations working hand-in-glove with Stand with Hong Kong include the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation—run by Mark Clifford, former Next Digital Group director. There's Hong Kong Watch, funded by Mark Simon and operated primarily by Benedict Rogers. There's the Hong Kong Democracy Council, fronted by fugitive national security suspect Anna Kwok. And since 2023, Stand with Hong Kong has served as secretariat for the UK's All-Party Parliamentary Group on Hong Kong.
These "friendly organizations" form a network with crystal-clear political objectives. Through overseas advocacy and coordinated actions, their primary target is attacking the Central Government and the SAR government.
In other words: Jimmy Lai may be behind bars facing trial, but the organizations and individuals Stand with Hong Kong maintains close contact with all have direct or indirect ties to Lai. Whether this team—which brands itself a "grassroots organization"—receives operational funding and other support within this anti-China network remains the billion-dollar question.
