Trial of ‘Hong Kong 12’ pro-democracy activists who tried to escape to Taiwan by speedboat begins in mainland China amid US calls for them to be released as they were ‘trying to flee tyranny’

• Ten of so-called ‘Hong Kong 12’ were in court in the southern city of Shenzhen 
• China has a history of putting dissidents on trial around Christmas and New Year
• United States urged the immediate release of dissidents it said had ‘fled tyranny’ 

A group of Hong Kong pro-democracy activists went on trial in China today after they were arrested at sea as they tried to flee the city by speedboat to get to Taiwan.

Ten of the so-called ‘Hong Kong 12’ appeared in court today in the southern city of Shenzhen to face charges linked to an illegal border crossing.

The 12 people, aged 16 to 33, were put under ‘compulsory criminal detention’ in August for illegally crossing the border, according to a statement from the public security bureau in Shenzhen of southern China.     

 Ten of the so-called ‘Hong Kong 12’ appeared in court today in the southern city of Shenzhen to face charges linked to an illegal border crossing. Pictured: Family members of the 12 arrested people in China at a press conference as the trial in Shenzhen has concluded without a verdict

Activist Lester Shum added that ‘none of the families (pictured) we know got to hear the trial’, despite the court’s statement saying relatives were present

Eight of the group are accused of an illegal border crossing, while two are suspected of organising for others to cross the border. Two minors face non-public hearings. 

China has a history of putting dissidents on trial around Christmas and New Year to avoid Western scrutiny and the hearing on Monday afternoon was closed to foreign reporters and diplomats. 

However the United States urged the immediate release of dissidents it said had ‘fled tyranny’. 

A convoy of vehicles were seen departing around four hours later and the Yantian District People’s Court said sentencing will be at a later date.     

Eight of the group are accused of an illegal border crossing, while two are suspected of organising for others to cross the border. Two minors face non-public hearings. Pictured: Family members of the 12 arrested people 

At least two of the group could face around seven years in jail for organising the attempted escape from a city where democracy activists last year led massive protests against Beijing’s rule.

Some already face prosecution in Hong Kong where a draconian national security law imposed by China has largely stamped out the city’s protest movement.

‘I would like to urge the Yantian court to hand down the verdict as soon as possible… With a verdict I can set off for Shenzhen. I just want to meet my son,’ activist Wong Wai-Yin’s mother said Monday evening.

At least two of the group could face around seven years in jail for organising the attempted escape from a city where democracy activists last year led massive protests against Beijing’s rule. Pictured: A family member of the 12 arrested people 

Activist Lester Shum added that ‘none of the families we know got to hear the trial’, despite the court’s statement saying relatives were present.

‘Their so-called ‘crime’ was to flee tyranny,’ a US embassy spokesperson said, ahead of the detainees’ scheduled court appearance.

Urging their immediate release, the spokesman said: ‘Communist China will stop at nothing to prevent its people from seeking freedom elsewhere.’

The US has used Hong Kong’s evaporating freedoms as a stick to beat China with in recent months.

China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs went into a familiar attack mode over the US comments.

Washington must ‘immediately stop interfering in China’s internal affairs through the Hong Kong issue and immediately stop interfering in China’s judicial sovereignty,’ spokesman Zhao Lijian told reporters.   

The file photo shows pan-democratic legislator Eddie Chu Hoi-dick, Vice convener for Hong Kong’s Civil Human Rights Front Figo Chan, and activist Leung Kwok-hung, also known as “Long Hair”, march at the anniversary of Hong Kong’s handover to China from Britain on July 1

Families of the accused – the youngest of whom is just 16 – have called for the hearing in the Shenzhen court to be broadcast live after they were unable to attend due to the short notice for the trial and Covid-19 requirements.

They were only notified of the trial date on Friday while their lawyers have been barred from meeting with the detainees. Authorities instead have appointed state-approved legal representation.

In a joint letter over the weekend, the families said they ‘strongly condemn’ the authorities’ decision to hold the trial in ‘de facto secret’.

Under Hong Kong’s security law, attempting to separate Hong Kong from China is illegal, as the law outlaws secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces in the city’s internal affairs. A man is detained by riot police during a demonstration on July 1

‘We urge governments to send embassy personnel to the hearing to guarantee a proper and fair trial by the courts in Shenzhen,’ they said, noting that those detained include British, Portuguese and Vietnamese nationals.

The security law that now blankets Hong Kong gives authorities sweeping powers of prosecution for acts deemed terrorism, secession, subversion or collusion with foreign entities.

The city had enjoyed unique freedoms since its handover from former colonial power Britain in 1997, with a deal promising a ‘one country, two systems’ arrangement for 50 years.

Protesters chant slogans and gesture during a rally against a new national security law in Hong Kong on July 1, the 23rd anniversary of the city’s handover from the UK to China

Beijing says the new security law was needed to restore peace and stability but critics have condemned it as a fatal attack on Hong Kong’s freedoms.

In a statement following the first day of the trial, the UK’s top diplomat said London was ‘deeply concerned that members of the Shenzhen 12 were tried in secret today.’

‘The Shenzhen 12 have not had access to lawyers of their choosing, raising further serious questions about access to legal counsel in Mainland China,’ Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said.

‘We expect China to uphold the rule of law and conduct trials in a fair and transparent manner, consistent with the basic requirements of international human rights law.’ 

Amnesty International said there was little chance the group would receive a fair trial.

‘They have so far been deprived of their basic rights, including the right to defend themselves through legal representation of their own choosing,’ Amnesty Hong Kong’s Programme Manager Lam Cho Ming said in a statement. 

Since Beijing imposed the security law in June, Taiwan has emerged as a sanctuary for Hong Kong activists – quietly turning a blind eye to dissidents turning up without proper visas or paperwork.

The self-ruling island opened a new office in July to deal with Hong Kongers wanting to move to the island, including those seeking to stay in Taiwan for ‘political reasons’. 

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