Govt Hits Out At Pompeo's Tweet On 12 Hongkongers

The SAR government said on Saturday it “strongly objects” to remarks made by a US official about 12 Hongkongers who were arrested by mainland authorities in August.

The statement by the SAR government did not name the official, but US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in a tweet early on Saturday morning said the 12 should be released immediately.

“Their so-called ‘crime’ was to flee tyranny,” Pompeo’s tweet said. “Communist China today is turning Hong Kong into the East Berlin of yesteryear, actively preventing its own people from seeking freedom elsewhere.”

The twelve were arrested by the coast guard on August 23 for entering the mainland’s waters illegally. They had been detained in Shenzhen while investigations were completed before reportedly being handed over to prosecutors there, “in accordance with the law”.

The Hong Kong government said the US official’s comment had “totally disregarded the facts and confused about what was right and wrong.” It said it was strongly dissatisfied with it.

The government added that the 12 “absconders” are wanted persons in Hong Kong, who were suspected of having committed serious offences in the SAR.

It said these included suspicion of making or possession of explosive, arson, conspiracy to wound, riot, assault on police officer, possession of offensive weapons, possession of instrument fit for unlawful purpose.

It said they are also suspected of violations of the national security law, for colluding with a foreign country or external elements to endanger national security.

It said the police action had nothing to do with the arrestees’ political background, and reiterated that they left Hong Kong illegally to try to evade criminal responsibility, as ten of them had been charged and were not allowed to leave the city when they were released on bail.

It said Hong Kong would ask for the 12 to be returned to Hong Kong after legal procedures in the mainland are completed, to follow up with offences they are suspected to have committed the city.

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