'No Sign' Of Coast Guard Entering HK Waters: Police

Police say they've reviewed marine traffic records from the day when a group of 12 Hong Kong people were intercepted while heading to Taiwan and found no sign of mainland coast guard vessels entering the SAR's waters.

The force also ruled out releasing marine police records from that date, August 23, to the public. The 12 have been detained by the authorities in Shenzhen since that date on suspicion of illegally crossing the border.

The statement, late on Sunday, came hours after relatives of six of the detainees went to police headquarters to ask the force for proof that the coast guard was not, in fact, operating in Hong Kong waters.

The 12, all of whom are suspected or charged with protest-related offences, are understood to have been heading for Taiwan. One of the 12 was also charged with offences under the SAR's new National Security Law.

In a statement to Reuters late on Sunday, Hong Kong police said authorities had reviewed the marine traffic records from August 23 and "did not find sign of any China coast guard vessels entering or staying in Hong Kong waters". It said marine police records would not be released to the public.

"Hong Kong Police Force are now maintaining close communication with the mainland law enforcement department to obtain the latest update of the case and take timely follow-up actions. No further information has been received so far," the statement said.

The families also want Hong Kong officials to contact the detainees being held in Shenzhen either in person or by phone, to check on their latest condition to ensure that they aren’t injured.

The relatives say Hong Kong officials should also help ensure that their loved ones are allowed access to lawyers they hired, after the counsels were repeatedly barred from meeting the detainees.