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HONG KONG: Relatives of some of the 12 Hong Kong people arrested by China at sea last month demanded that the city government verify their status and ensure that lawyers appointed by the families and not by the Chinese government can meet with them.
The 12 were arrested on August 23 for illegally entering mainland Chinese waters after setting sail from Hong Kong on a ship bound for autonomous Taiwan.
All were suspected of having committed crimes in Hong Kong related to the anti-government protests that broke out last year. Ten had been charged, released on bail and were not allowed to leave the former British colony, and now all are being held in neighboring Shenzhen.
READ: Chinese lawyers fight to access Hong Kong speedboat fugitives
Relatives of some of the detainees held a press conference in front of the Hong Kong police headquarters on Sunday (September 20) to express their frustration with local authorities.
“We want our son to return … even if we cannot visit him, at least send us a letter from him to confirm that he is there,” said the father of a detainee, Li Tsz Yin.
The Hong Kong government and police did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters.
The relatives also asked the police to “give an account of the date, time, place and process of the arrest” and if there were injuries or casualties, and the Department of the Navy to release the radar records of the day of arrest.
They said the government “only shirked responsibility and misled the public with mere excuses.”
“However, until now, lawyers appointed by the families have refused to meet with the detainees. In other words, the conditions of the so-called arrested persons are still known only to the Chinese authorities,” a statement said.
READ: Hong Kong says it will not interfere with China’s arrest of 12 at sea
On Tuesday, Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam expressed dissatisfaction with some calling the group “oppressed democratic activists,” saying they are fleeing the law. Lam said they would have to be “treated” by mainland Chinese authorities, but promised to provide “feasible” assistance.
Shenzhen police said last Sunday they were suspected of trespassing, their first public comment on the matter. On the same day, the Chinese Foreign Ministry called the group “separatists.”
