Families Demand Right To Visit Jailed Loved Ones

The families of some of the 10 Hongkongers jailed on the mainland for illegal border crossing have called on mainland authorities to allow them to visit their loved ones behind bars.

The 10 were each given jail terms ranging from seven months to three years on Wednesday.

The mother of Li Tsz-yin, who was given a seven-month sentence, said she wants to know how often she could visit her son, the length of the visits, and what she could bring him such as clothes.

"When we go north, we have to be quarantined for 14 days. Can we be exempt from quarantine after getting tested [for coronavirus]?" asked Li's mother in an audio recording she gave to the press.

She said she felt her son's sentence was too harsh, saying she was expecting him to return home after two minors were allowed back to Hong Kong with no charges laid.

The father of Cheng Tsz-ho was also unhappy with his son's jailing.

"I think each and every day [they spend in jail] is unjust," he said.

The Security Bureau said on Wednesday that the families can contact the Immigration Department, which will relay their requests for visits to the mainland authorities.

But Tsuen Wan district councillor Lester Shum, who's helping to arrange for the families to visit their loved ones, quoted one family as saying the Immigration Department doesn't know where they were jailed and could not offer assistance with their visits.

Meanwhile, a family member of Quinn Moon, who was sentenced to two years in prison and fined 15,000 yuan for organising the illegal border crossing, asked for clarification of those "relatives" who attended Monday's trial.

The Shenzhen court claimed that "relatives" of the accused were present at the hearing, even though the families said they couldn't make the trip because of short notice.

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