'Family, Lawyers, Can't Meet Detainees Before Trial'

A local deputy to the National People's Congress, Ip Kwok-him, has poured cold water on the prospect that family members will be allowed to visit 12 Hongkongers being detained in Shenzhen before they're put on trial.

The detainees – all of whom were facing prosecution in Hong Kong for various protest-related offences -- were intercepted at sea in August during a reported attempt to flee to Taiwan.

Mainland media have said that ten of them are accused of illegally entering mainland waters, and two are facing a more serious charge of organising an illegal border crossing.

Family members have been campaigning to be allowed to visit the detainees, or at least for their lawyers to be given access to them.

But executive councillor and NPC delegate Ip Kwok-him told reporters after attending the National Day reception at the convention centre in Wan Chai that according to his understanding, neither are possible.

He said only the lawyers that have been appointed for them can see them, and family members likely will have to wait until after their trials are over -- when they're sentenced, or released.

There is a possibility though, he added, that the relatives may be allowed to see the detainees during the trial.