Families plead for return of HK activists held in mainland China

Mike Pompeo expresses concern as relatives say a dozen people missing for three weeks are denied chosen lawyers.

Family members of the activists hold a press conference in Hong Kong on Saturday. Puicture: Getty Images

Families of Hong Kong activists detained by mainland Chinese authorities last month after trying to flee the city by boat have appealed for information about the group and demanded their immediate return.

Their plea on Saturday followed comments by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday who expressed concern the group of 12 arrested had been denied access to their lawyers while Chinese authorities had yet to provide information about their welfare or the charges they face.

At a press conference on Saturday, relatives of some of the detained were accompanied by two pro-democracy Hong Kong MPs. They said they had summoned up the courage to speak out after failing to get in touch with the detainees over the past three weeks.

The dozen, including a 16-year-old, were detained August 23 en route to Taiwan after their speed boat was intercepted by China’s coast guard in the South China Sea. They were trying to seek refuge from Beijing’s national security crackdown in their home city.

They have been held at the Yantian Detention Centre in Shenzhen, and haven’t been allowed to contact their families or hire lawyers of their choice, said MP Eddie Chu, who read a statement on behalf of the families.

“Authorities are determined to block all the information about the detainees,” Mr Chu said.

“The Hong Kong government has not provided any concrete assistance.”

Shenzhen police didn’t respond to calls. A spokesman at the Guangdong police department hung up after a Wall Street Journal reporter identified herself.

China’s coast guard has in the past stopped boats suspected in smuggling operations, but has rarely been involved in the arrest of pro-democracy activists fleeing the city by sea. Thousands of people have been arrested since antigovernment protests racked the city from June last year. China’s national security law has raised the stakes for political opponents by introducing a raft of broadly defined offenses from secessionism to colluding with foreign forces. The incident is fuelling tension between Beijing and Taiwan, an island democracy that China claims as its territory.

On Friday, Mr Pompeo said that the US is deeply concerned and aimed a barb at Hong Kong’s top local official Carrie Lam.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

“We questioned Executive Lam’s stated commitment to protecting the rights of Hong Kong residents, and call on authorities to ensure due process,” he said.

The Hong Kong Immigration Department said it was “actively following up” with the incident and will continue to do so and provide appropriate assistance. The department said it was told by mainland authorities that “the 12 persons are physically well and have been appointed lawyers.” The department could help deliver letters to the detained, should the families need, it said. Mainland authorities have denied family appointed lawyers of six detainees from meeting with them, the families’ statement said. In some cases, the families were told that the Chinese government has assigned lawyers to them. In addition, some China-based lawyers appointed by the families have been told to withdraw from the cases or risk losing their licenses, the families said.

“It’s very unusual that the mainland lawyers appointed by families are persuaded to withdraw from the cases,” said James To, a pro-democracy MP. Those detained should be transferred to Hong Kong and their cases should be handled under Hong Kong’s legal system, he said.

The family members urged Chinese authorities to allow lawyers of the families’ choice to visit and to allow the detained to call their families, as well as arrange prescribed medication to those in need and called for their immediate transfer back to Hong Kong.

“I’m very worried about my son. There’s been no news in more than 20 days. I don’t even know if he’s alive or dead,” said the mother of detainee Li Tsz-yin. The relatives at the press briefing didn’t give their names and all of them covered their faces with masks, sunglasses and hats, in an attempt to hide their facial features.

Opposition in the city has been muted since China imposed the national security law on June 30 and sent in security agents. A special police squad has made dozens of arrests under the new legislation.

Another family member said he was unable to provide information about the prescribed medications that his detained brother Tang Kai-yin needs. Mr Tang suffers from asthma and skin disease and relies on medications, he said.

The Wall Street Journal