Hong Kong fugitives held in mainland China unlikely to learn their fate for months, lawyer says
- Twelve were arrested in August while trying to flee to Taiwan and have been charged with crossing the border illegally
- Human rights lawyer expects verdict to come around New Year’s Day or Lunar New Year at the earliest
Lu Siwei, a human rights lawyer appointed by the family of one of the suspects, who has yet to meet his client at Yantian People’s Procuratorate in Shenzhen, said he was not optimistic about the case.
He cited the low acquittal rate on the mainland, but suggested two minors involved might be spared from prosecution.
Mainland judicial authorities on September 30 officially approved the arrests of the 12 Hongkongers – captured at sea on August 23 while attempting to flee to Taiwan – for illegal border crossing or organising such an act.
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Family of 12 detained Hongkongers say government lied about capture
On Tuesday, Lu said he expected public security authorities to end the investigation and officially lay charges against the fugitives by November 30, allowing for the full two-month maximum term of investigative custody.