Another Lawyer Forced To Drop HK Speedboat Case

The family of one of the 12 young Hongkongers detained in Shenzhen after being intercepted at sea have been dealt another blow, with a second lawyer they appointed to represent him forced to drop the case.

Relatives of Hong Kong University student Kwok Tsz-lun, 19, had made a fresh attempt to secure legal representation for him. But RTHK understands that the new lawyer hired has also had to pull out, after coming under pressure from mainland authorities.

Officials told the lawyer that the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission wanted him to withdraw from the case.

It is understood that the lawyers' identity had been leaked even before an official approach had been made to meet the student.

This is at least the sixth mainland lawyer forced to withdraw from the controversial case. The SAR government said earlier this month that all of the Hongkongers, who are accused of illegally entering mainland waters, have been able to choose lawyers from an approved list provided by mainland officials.

The 12 were caught by the Guangdong coastguard on August 23 as they tried to flee from the SAR to Taiwan by speedboat. Eleven had earlier been charged with protest-related offences in Hong Kong, while one had been arrested under the national security law.

Kwok was charged with rioting in November last year. He had allegedly been involved in clashes with the police as protesters attempted to "rescue" people caught up in the police siege of Polytechnic University.