The detainment of the 12 Hongkongers

The detainment of the 12 Hongkongers was the event of 12 Hongkongers being arrested as they were fleeing to Taiwan on 23 August 2020. On 26 August 2020, the China Coast Guard published a post on Weibo stating that the Guangdong Division of South China Sea Subbureau has intercepted a motorboat on the territorial water of China southeastern to the territorial water of Hong Kong, and has subsequently arrested 12 personnels on the boat for ”unlawfully crossing the border” . The 12 arrested personnel are currently being detained in the Yantian District Detention Centre in Shenzhen . 10 relatives of the detainees have for multiple times requested for the lawyers they appointed to meet the detained Hongkongers, but the requests to meet were always refused by the public security. Furthermore, 13 attorneys appointed by the detainee’s relatives have been pressured by the public security, and 6 of them have subsequently withdrawn from the case. Both Hong Kong locals and the international community have expressed great concern for this event.
The detainees
The 12 detainees have been arrested during the 2019-20 Hong Kong protests. The 11 male and 1 female detainees are listed as below ,
* Andy Li Yu-hin (Age 29): A member of Hong Kong Story, previously arrested for alleged collusion with foreign forces according to the Hong Kong National Security Law. He was also charged with money laundering.
* Cheung Chun-fu (Age 22): A student of Hong Kong Open University, charged with conspiracy to wound with intent, possession of firearms and ammunition without a licence, and possession of instrument fit for unlawful purpose, as he was found to be carrying a handgun and live ammunition on the Human Rights Day March on 8 December 2019.
* Cheung Ming-yu (Age 20): A transport worker, charged with conspiracy to wound with intent, possession of firearms and ammunition without a licence, and possession of instrument fit for unlawful purpose, as he was found to be carrying a handgun and live ammunition on the Human Rights Day March on 8 December 2019.
* Yim Man-him (Age 21): A vocational college student, charged with conspiracy to wound with intent, possession of firearms and ammunition without a licence, and possession of instrument fit for unlawful purpose, as he was found to be carrying a handgun and live ammunition on the Human Rights Day March on 8 December 2019.
* Li Tsz-yin (Age 29): A surveyor, charged with rioting and assaulting a police officer during the execution of his duty at the Global Anti-Totalitarianism March on 29 September 2020.
* Kok Tsz-lun (Age 18): A student of the University of Hong Kong, charged with rioting, possession of an instrument fit for unlawful purpose, and possession of an offensive weapon during the Siege of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
* Cheng Tsz-ho (Age 17): A MTR trainee technician (resigned in 2019), charged with conspiracy to commit arson with intent and possessing a substance with intent to destroy or damage property, as materials for Molotov were found in an apartment in Wan Chai on 30 September 2019.
* Tang Kai-yin (Age 30): A salesperson, charged with conspiracy to commit arson with intent and possessing a substance with intent to destroy or damage property, as materials for molotov were found in an apartment in Wan Chai on 30 September 2019.
* Liu Tsz-man (Age 17): A Secondary 5 student, charged with conspiracy to commit arson with intent and possessing a substance with intent to destroy or damage property as materials for molotov were found in an apartment in Wan Chai on 30 September 2019.
* Wong Wai-yin (Age 29): A technician, charged with conspiracy to make an explosive, as he was alleged to have made dinitrotoluene (DNT) on 16 January 2020 near Ng Uk Tsuen in Sheung Shui.
* Hoang Lam-phuc (Age 16): A student of Vietnamese descent, charged with arson with intent and possession of an offensive weapon, as he was alleged to have used a molotov in front of the Mong Kok Police Station on 14 October 2020, and to have stored three molotovs made from beer bottles in his residency on the same day.
* Quinn Moon: Wanted by police for a bomb-making case in Sheung Shui.
Course of event
The 12 personnel started their journey from Po Toi O in Sai Kung District, planning to first reach the Pratas Islands which was 340 km from Hong Kong and stationed by the Taiwanese Armed Forces, then transfer to a larger boat and depart for the Pingtung County in Taiwan Ren Quanniu, another Mainland human rights attorney, received a call from the local judicial bureau telling him to withdraw from the case, saying that this case “involved very important matters”, and that Ren “should look out for himself” .
On 12 September 2020, 6 relatives of the detainees held a press conference with the help of the politicians Owen Chow, Eddie Chu, and James To. At the press conference, the detainees’ relatives stated that the detainees were being held in incommunicado detention, and that at least three of them were underage. Additionally, multiple Mainland attorneys who have been appointed by the relatives were unable to meet their clients, with some of them even asked by the police to withdraw from the case. The relatives criticised that the CCP was depriving the detainees of their rights by assigning them “official attorneys” without their consent. They also criticised the Hong Kong Government of failing to provide any substantial assistance. One of the relatives mentioned that China officials have denied his/her child access to medication, even though he/her needs prescribed medication for asthma, chronic skin condition, and depression.
The relatives of the detainees also made four requests to the government at the press conference ,
# The attorney appointed by the detainee’s relatives should be allowed to meet their clients, and the detainees should not be assigned “official attorneys” without their consent.
# The detainees should be provided the appropriate medication.
# The detainees should be allowed to call their families.
# The Hong Kong government should ensure that the rights of the detainees are being respected, and arrange for them to come back to Hong Kong immediately.
On 20 September 2020, some of the relatives, accompanied by Eddie Chu and Owen Chow, went to the Hong Kong Police Headquarters to file the case and requested an investigation of the event. They pointed out that there were still many unclear points surrounding the case and demanded that the officials release more information on the event such as the time, location, and the course of the event. They also asked for additional information such as the Marine Police’s patrol route on that day and the Marine Department’s radar system record of the boat in question. Furthermore, they requested that the Hong Kong Government ensure the safety of the 12 detainees by meeting or calling them, and arrange for them to meet the attorneys appointed by their families.
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