Lawyer Again Denied Access To Detainees On Mainland

A lawyer hired by the family of one of 12 Hong Kong people detained on the mainland said on Wednesday that he was denied access to his client, and the authorities there told him that two lawyers are already representing his client.

Lu Siwei said the authorities did not name the lawyers and said he believes they were ones assigned by the authorities.

The Hongkongers were intercepted and arrested by mainland coastguards in August for alleged illegal entry while reportedly sailing to Taiwan to seek political asylum. They have been detained in Shenzhen since then.

Chengdu-based lawyer Lu said police at the Yantian detention centre refused his request to see his client. He also said he now fears other detainees would also be pressured into accepting lawyers assigned by the authorities.

Earlier, Lu had offered papers authenticated by the family to show he has been appointed by them, and officers had said they will give a reply within 48 hours.

The lawyer was rejected access last Saturday, when he was told his papers weren't authenticated by the family.

Meanwhile Shanghai-based lawyer Ren Quanniu, who was also hired on behalf of some detainees, said he has filed a complaint about not being allowed access to them.

He said for Hong Kong suspects, there should be no need for authentication papers as demanded by the authorities now.

Ren said he plans to visit the detainees next week after papers are endorsed by the family, but he is not optimistic he will get to see them.

Ren said the families of those detained contacted him through the internet, and they asked him not to say much to the media.

The lawyer said they are very anxious, and fear more trouble if details of their case were made public.