HK won't interfere in mainland case of 12 fugitives

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government will not request the mainland authorities to return 12 fugitives to Hong Kong before the completion of the legal proceedings in the mainland.

Secretary for Security John Lee Kai-chiu made the statement when answering lawmakers’ questions in the Legislative Council on Wednesday (Oct. 21). He said that every individual should take responsibility for their own actions.

“The Hong Kong SAR government definitely will not do so, as this would encourage more people to abscond by jumping bail and condone the criminals' intentional evasion of legal liabilities. It is entirely improper to let such a wrong act of abscondence sustain,” he said.

Lee added that the HKSAR government respected the mainland authorities' handling of the case.

“The Hong Kong SAR government will not interfere with, and will respect, the mainland law enforcement authorities' handling of the case in accordance with the local laws, regulations and judicial systems, in the same way as we expect our legal and judicial systems to be respected.”

The 12 local activists were captured at sea by Guangdong provincial authorities on Aug 23 while they were attempting to leave for Taiwan. They are being detained in Shenzhen and charged with illegally crossing the boundary or organizing others to do so.

One of the 12 had been arrested earlier on suspicion of violating the National Security Law in Hong Kong. Others were accused of participating in criminal cases related to last year’s social unrest.

Lee also noted that after receiving requests for assistance from the absconded suspects' families, the Immigration Department (ImmD) and the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office in Guangdong (GDETO) have followed up the incidents and provided assistance.

Lee pointed out they have informed the families of the mainland's laws and regulations as well as expedited the issue of the required Certificates of Registered Particulars as proof of their relationship at the request of individual family members.

As at October 19, the family members have made a total of 29 different written requests, including those for medication and bail. The ImmD relayed the requests to the mainland authorities via the GDETO.

The GDETO has also enquired about the suspects' health from the relevant mainland authorities and has been given to understand that a medical diagnosis would be provided. Lee said the mainland authorities have stated that the legal rights of the arrested will be lawfully protected.

On the issue of lawyers, the security chief noted that the 12 absconded suspects have respectively appointed two lawyers.

He said the HKSAR government has relayed to the mainland authorities the requests of some family members for information on the appointed lawyers.

The mainland authorities said that they would act in accordance with the law, Lee added.

(Source: China Daily)