Hong Kong protests: eight of 12 fugitives captured trying to flee city last August released from prison in mainland China, lawyer accuses police of keeping families in dark
- Activist Andy Li is first to return to Hong Kong from group of eight released on Monday after they were jailed in Shenzhen for illegal border crossing
- In total, 12 fugitives, including two underage suspects, were intercepted last August at sea trying to escape prosecution over roles in 2019 anti-government protests
Mainland Chinese authorities on Monday released from jail and handed over to Hong Kong eight fugitives from a group of 12 arrested at sea while trying to flee to Taiwan seven months ago.
However, a local lawyer helping the fugitives accused Hong Kong police of keeping their families in the dark all day and leaving them to find out details about arrangements from media reports.
The eight were sent back in batches on Monday after being jailed in Shenzhen for illegally crossing the border last August.
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Mainland China begins releasing eight Hong Kong fugitives intercepted while trying to flee to Taiwan
The first to be returned on Monday was activist Andy Li, who was previously arrested in Hong Kong under the national security law. He gave a statement to police in the absence of his lawyer, according to barrister Chow Hang-tung, who has been helping the families of the 12.
“Police have not informed the activists’ families about the arrangement, at all. The families only learned about it from media reports, how ridiculous is that? It is incomprehensible why police have to be so secretive about it,” Chow said, calling the force’s handling “extremely disappointing”.
“Li’s lawyer arrived at the police station by noon, but was told Li was already giving his statement and did not want to meet his lawyer. It is the detainees’ right to meet their families and their lawyers - why do police have to obstruct them?”
Ten of the 12 were jailed in Shenzhen last year for between seven months and three years for illegally crossing the border during their attempt to reach Taiwan on August 23 to escape prosecution over their roles in Hong Kong’s 2019 anti-government protests. Two underage suspects were returned last year to Hong Kong police.
Li was the only one of the eight not to have been charged in Hong Kong. He was arrested last August on suspicion of money laundering and collusion with foreign forces, an offence under the national security law that carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.