KIN OF HK RESIDENTS JAILED IN CHINA FOR ‘FLEEING TO TAIWAN’ SEEK HELP

Family members of a group of Hong Kong people detained in mainland China after a reported botched attempt to flee Hong Kong for Taiwan sought Saturday assurances of their safety and urged their immediate return to Hong Kong, Kyodo news service reported late on September 12, 2020.

The 12 detainees were reported to include democracy activists such as Andy Li, who was arrested for breaching a new national security law imposed in Hong Kong, and others who are freed on bail after being arrested for various offenses during the anti-government protests.

Their detention was brought to Hong Kong authorities' attention only days after they were reportedly caught by China Coast Guard in the sea on Aug. 23 while attempting to leave Chinese waters illegally.

The families of six of the 12 were told they were detained at the Yantian detention center in southern China's Shenzhen City, while none of the detainees, including the youngest aged 16, has been allowed to meet with the family-appointed lawyers. "The whole family is very worried. Is he safe, or is he still alive?" the mother of one of the detainees Lee Chi-yin told reporters, while concealing her identity. She said the mainland lawyer the family have hired to represent her son was not allowed to make a visit even bearing the authentication documents required, and was told the mainland authorities have appointed a lawyer for him, whom she has no trust in. "The government has yet to speak up for us. Hong Kong's chief executive should protect Hong Kong people but she seemed to have done nothing," she said. "I don't even dare to think of the worst situation to come."

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