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HONG KONG: The Hong Kong government will not intervene in the case of 12 city residents who were arrested by mainland Chinese authorities as they tried to flee by boat to Taiwan, despite pleas for help from family members, who said it was a matter under the jurisdiction of mainland China.
The 12 were arrested on Aug. 23 for illegally entering mainland China after setting sail from Hong Kong on a ship bound for Taiwan following a Beijing offensive against pro-democracy activists in the former British colony.
The 12 failed attempt to flee to Taiwan has highlighted the fears many people feel in Hong Kong about what they see as China’s determination to end any push for more democracy in the financial center.
LEE: China calls Hong Kong people arrested at sea ‘separatists’
China’s Foreign Ministry on Sunday called the group “separatists.” Police in the Chinese city of Shenzhen, where they are being detained, said they were suspected of illegal entry.
“Everyone, regardless of where they are in any jurisdiction, must respect local laws and be responsible for their actions,” the Hong Kong Security Office, responsible for law and order in the city, said in a statement.
Hong Kong residents who broke laws abroad could expect “viable help” from the city while respecting the local judicial system, he said.
READ: Families of captured Hong Kong activists demand their return from Chinese detention
The bureau said the 12 were suspected of having committed crimes in Hong Kong, and 10 of them were charged with crimes such as manufacture or possession of explosives, arson, riot, assault on the police or possession of offensive weapons. Those 10 had been released on bail and were not allowed to leave Hong Kong, he said.
One was suspected of colluding with foreign forces under a national security law that Beijing imposed on Hong Kong in June. The law allows the punishment of anything that China considers subversion, separatism, terrorism or collusion.
Critics say the law undermines the special status the city was granted when Britain handed it over to China under the “one country, two systems” formula in 1997.
Supporters say it will restore stability after months of sometimes violent pro-democracy protests.
Relatives of the detainees held a press conference in Hong on Saturday to demand their return.
The youngest of the 12 was a 16-year-old boy, and several of them needed medication, relatives said.
The Security Office said families could get legal help and medication arrangements could be made.
