Families Of Captured HK Activists Urge Their Return

Families of six of those detained in Shenzhen after being arrested by mainland coastguards in August, said on Saturday that they are concerned to learn that lawyers have been appointed without their knowledge and pleaded with the Hong Kong authorities to help bring them back to the SAR.

The group of 12 Hongkongers were intercepted while reportedly sailing to Taiwan to seek political asylum and are facing charges of alleged illegal entry. They have been detained in Shenzhen since then and mainland lawyers hired by the families here have not be allowed access to them, with the authorities saying they have legal representation already.

The mother of one of the detained who was among the family members who met the media on Saturday, said that she was certain that her son would not agree to be represented by any lawyer there and they have no relatives living there.

She said she is very worried about his situation and don't even know if he is safe.

Wife of another detainee said all their enquiries about the detainees have been met with bureaucratic responses and their basic rights to get reasonable information is being denied. Even a mainland lawyer they hired is being urged by the authorities there not to take the case, she said.

Brother and mother of another detainee said they are worried about his health as he has asthma and skin disease that need constant medication. They said they also fear something must have happened to him and that is why requests for access is being denied by the authorities there.

They accused the Chief Executive of turning a blind eye to their plight.

"Carrie Lam once said she is like a mother to Hong Kong people. If you are a parent, you will do whatever you can if your child is lost. But it seems she doesn't care," the brother said.

The families also accused the Hong Kong police just passing the buck, saying the mainland authorities told them that they can't verify if these are truly the family members of those detained.

"We hoped the government can tell us what's going on. But it seems that they are indifferent," one of them said.

One mother said she can't sleep now as she doesn’t even know her son is alive or not. She urged the Hong Kong authorities to bring them back here, so at least she can see him.

Pro-democracy lawmakers Chu Hoi-dick and James To are helping the families.

"Their legal right to representation is being undermined. It is only right that the Hong Kong government discuss with the mainland authorities, so that Hong Kong person’s legal right under the mainland law should be respected,” said To.