Family members of two exiled Hong Kong democracy activists wanted by authorities are being investigated by national security police, media reports have said.

The pair, former lawmaker Dennis Kwok and unionist Mung Siu-tat, are among eight exiled activists sought by authorities for alleged violations of the Beijing-imposed National Security Law, with arrest warrants and bounties of 1 million Hong Kong dollars (about $128,000) awarding information leading to their arrest being announced on July 3. That move drew widespread condemnation as authorities move to crack down on any form of dissent.

Kwok¡¯s older brother was taken to a police station for questioning on Thursday, the South China Morning Post reported, adding that the home of Mung¡¯s older brother was raided on Tuesday, with family members taken into custody for questioning. No arrests have been made, the report said.

A source told the SCMP that the family members were suspected of ¡°assisting persons wanted by police to continue to commit acts and engage in activities that endanger national security,¡± adding that the probe was continuing and arrests were possible.

Mung, who is now based in the U.K., told the AFP news agency earlier this week that he intends to continue his activism and doesn¡¯t believe he and others can be silenced. But he said the moves by authorities do have some effect.

¡°They are not only mounting pressure on us but also making those who live in Hong Kong dare not to maintain contact with us,¡± he said.

Family members of another of the eight targeted activists, Nathan Law, were reportedly questioned on July 11, with police investigating

whether they were acting on his behalf in Hong Kong or supporting him financially. They were later released.

On July 11, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee urged the public to treat the wanted activists like ¡°street rats,¡± adding that police would probe those alleged to be supporting them ¡°behind the scenes.¡±

Sam Yip, a former Hong Kong district councilor who is now the spokesman for the Japan Hong Kong Democracy Alliance, said Thursday during a news conference at the Foreign Correspondents¡¯ Club of Japan that the targeting of family members is intended to incite fear.

The other exiled activists targeted with bounties are former lawmaker Ted Hui, activists Anna Kwok and Finn Lau, academic Kevin Yam and online commentator Yuan Gong-yi.

To date, police in Hong Kong have arrested 260 people under the national security law, with 79 convicted or awaiting sentencing, officials have said.