Opinion | The 12 Hongkongers detained in Shenzhen shall bear the fruits of their actions

By Alan Leung, Blogger specialized on current affairs

The detainment of a dozen of Hong Kong residents in mainland China that were arrested when China Coast Guard intercepted their speedboat in Chinese waters on August 23 as they tried to flee to Taiwan has sparked a new Sino-US diplomatic row, as the families of the 12 made their first public appeal to the local government to bring the group back to the city for trial.

Beijing's foreign affairs arm in Hong Kong had issued a strong statement and called on US politicians to stop interfering in the city's affairs after the US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, released a statement to express concern that the suspects had "been denied access to lawyers of their choice."

It's important to realize the Chinese legal framework is different from the West and it's normal for those in custody to not have external legal support until the charges are laid. Therefore it is highly disrespectful for anyone to use their standard to criticize another country's legal juridical system.

Chinese laws also allow an extended period of detainment during special circumstances such as the 12 are facing which has been caused by the lack of extradition arrangement and complexity of overlapping legal jurisdiction between national and city's laws, and Hong Kong's unique mini-constitution arrangement which would require more time for the relevant department to work through the minefield and come up with a proper course of action.

Furthermore, it is highly questionable if those making the public appeal are bona fide family members or impersonators. As there is no reason for bona fide family members to be completely covered up, hooded with their faces covered with masks and sunglasses, as the authorities already know their identities.

All in all, the complexities of the current situation is caused by the lack of extradition arrangement between mainland China and Hong Kong which the detainees desperately want right now. This is the very extradition arrangement which led to the year-long unrest in Hong Kong and without such an arrangement there is very little local authorities can do to help the 12 residents because at the end of the day they are Chinese citizens.

In addition, the breach of Chinese illegal entry and trafficking laws are enough to get the 12 jail time in China. The only question now is how and where will their crimes in Hong Kong be trailed. They are only bearing the fruits of their actions and have no one else to blame.

The views do not necessarily reflect those of DotDotNews.