'HK Detainees Could Be Back Before Lunar New Year'

The families of a group of 12 young Hongkongers detained in Shenzhen have reportedly been told that some of the detainees may be allowed to return to the SAR before Lunar New Year.

Former lawmaker Chu Hoi-dick, who’s been assisting the families, told an RTHK programme that lawyers appointed by mainland officials have indicated to the families that some of the detainees’ cases “aren’t too serious” and that they believe they’ll only be given six to seven-month jail terms.

Given that the 12 were captured by the Guangdong coastguard in August, that would mean there was a chance that they could return to the SAR before Lunar New Year in February.

However, the lawyers – many of whom refused to reveal their identites – did point out that the consequences would be more serious for the “organisers” of the alleged border breach, without elaborating further.

Chu said that even though the families are unable to verify the identities of the lawyers or the information they provide, they still feel somewhat relieved to hear about their loved ones.

But the former pro-democracy legislator condemned Hong Kong's Immigration Department for allegedly failing to hand over letters from the families to the detainees, despite promising to assist them.

He said the relatives are extremely disappointed and unhappy that the SAR government has provided "absolutely no support".

The 12 Hongkongers were arrested as they allegedly tried to flee to Taiwan by boat after earlier being arrested in the SAR over protest-related offences.

One of them was accused of breaching the SAR's national security law.

The families told reporters over the weekend that they had received more handwritten letters from the detainees before they were approached by the lawyers.