‘Chinese gulag’ fate for Hong Kong activist Andy Li, arrested in coast guard swoop

China has arrested one of the early organisers of a global parliamentary alliance co-chaired in Australia.

Commissioner of the Hong Kong Police, Chris Tang, said his department was seeking information from mainland authorities about the coast guard’s detention of activists. Picture: AFP

China has arrested one of the early organisers of a global parliamentary alliance co-chaired in Australia by Liberal Andrew Hastie and Labor MP Kimberley Kitching.

Andy Li, 30, was attempting to flee to Taiwan on a speedboat with 11 other pro-democracy activists when they were intercepted by the Chinese coast guard about a week ago.

The Hong Kong activist was part of the early working group to establish the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, which has representatives across 16 national legislatures and the European parliament.

The speedboat intercepted by the Chinese coast guard. Picture: Supplied

“As one of the group’s core volunteers, he attended each of the group’s web meetings, offering advice and counsel on our activities,” one of Mr Li’s supporters told The Australian.

“He was a sounding board to many of the group’s senior parliamentarians.”

IPAC said Mr Li did not undertake work for the alliance after China imposed new security laws in Hong Kong on July 1.

Mr Li, a British Overseas National passport holder, was arrested two weeks ago under those laws for “collaborating with foreign forces” to undermine the territory’s security.

The police presented him with messages they said was “prima facie evidence of collaboration”.

After the 🇨🇳 Coast Guard announced they arrested 12 people on a boat 80 miles from HK (fleeing to Taiwan), it’s being widely reported that Andy Li, arrested under the National Security Law 3 weeks ago, was onboard. Gives a sense of the utter desperation. https://t.co/ZuB2FLheSE

— Jack Hazlewood (@JackHHazlewood) August 27, 2020

“His lawyers informed him that the prospect of conviction was absolute and that he would spend — if ever released — decades in prison in gulag-style conditions on the Chinese mainland,” his supporter said.

The pro-democracy activists paid people smugglers to get them to Taiwan, leaving on an overloaded speedboat at 7pm on August 22.

The group was scheduled to ring supporters on a satellite phone every hour, but weren’t heard from again after an 8pm call when they reported they were in international waters.

Chinese authorities said the group was taken to Guangdong, where they remain in an undisclosed location.

The alliance is co-chaired by Liberal MP Andrew Hastie. Picture Kym Smith

Mr Hastie and Senator Kitching declined to comment on Mr Li’s case, amid growing concerns for his welfare.

Mr Li is said to be a quiet, shy man who was skilled at working with computers.

He was renowned for working through the night and would frequently send emails and texts in the early hours of the morning.