Five Ex-Shenzen Detainees Mentioned In HK Court

Five of the 12 Hong Kong people, who returned to the SAR last month after serving jail sentences in Shenzhen for an illegal border crossing, were remanded back in custody after being mentioned in court on Monday to face charges relating to anti-government protests.

The five appeared at Sha Tin Magistracy after completing their two-week quarantine following their return on March 22.

Cheung Chun-fu, Cheung Ming-yu and Yim Man-him face charges of conspiracy to wound with intent and possession of offensive weapon or other instrument fit for unlawful purpose. The court adjourned their cases to May 3 at Eastern Court.

Kok Tsz-lun is charged with possession of an instrument fit for unlawful purpose and with intent to use for any unlawful purpose. His case was adjourned to May 5 at Tuen Mun Magistracy.

The court also adjourned the hearing for Wong Wai-yin, charged with making explosives, to May 3 at the Fanling Magistracy.

All five were not required to enter pleas and did not apply for bail. They will remain in custody until their next hearings.

The five were among eight detainees who completed their sentences on the mainland. They were part of a group of 12 captured by the Guangdong coast guard in August last year -- allegedly for trying to escape to Taiwan on a speedboat.

The whereabouts of one of the eight, national security suspect Andy Li, had remained a mystery to the public and his family for more than a week following his return to SAR, with Hong Kong officials refusing to disclose where he was being detained.

It was only until last Friday that Li’s younger sister, Beatrice Li, said on social media that they had finally heard from her brother, thanks to people’s “continued attention” to his case. But she did not provide further details as to where Li was.

Media reports suggested Li was being held at the Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre.