Case Of 12 HK Detainees Kept Off Legco's Agenda

Pro-government lawmakers have blocked an attempt by their pan-democratic rivals to discuss in Legco the arrest of 12 Hong Kong people by mainland authorities.

At a Legco House Committee meeting on Friday, the Civic Party's Kwok Ka-ki requested a debate in next week's full council meeting. He said the Secretary for Security, John Lee, should tell lawmakers about the situation of the detainees and how the Hong Kong government has been helping them and their families.

The opposition camp also wants the security chief to explain if the police and the Government Flying Service had tailed the group on the morning of their arrests two months ago, as suggested by some government critics and family members.

But the pro-establishment camp voted down Kwok's proposal thanks to their majority in the House Committee. They said there was nothing to discuss because it is clear that the 12 detainees are "serious criminals" trying to flee Hong Kong.

DAB lawmaker Elizabeth Quat accused her rivals of trying to interfere with the mainland's legal system and attacking the Hong Kong authorities.

"I don't think they should use Legco as a platform to try to mislead Hong Kong people and use this case to attack the Hong Kong government and the police... to please their voters," Quat said.

Wong Kwok-kin from the Federation of Trade Unions said the pan-democrats should have asked the government to reintroduce the controversial extradition bill, allowing mainland authorities to send the 12 detainees back to Hong Kong if they really want to help them.

The convenor of the pan-democrats, Wu Chi-wai from the Democratic Party, said they will keep pursuing the matter in Legco until they get concrete answers from the government.