Hong Kong 12

"Save 12" campaign demanding the release of the captured Hong Kong protesters by Chinese authorities
2019–2020 Hong Kong protests
Background
Timeline
2019
2020
Major incidents
Tactics and methods
Fatalities
Reactions to the protests
Reactions to the Hong Kong national security law
2020
2021

Hong Kong 12,[1][2][3] or 12 Hongkongers,[4] are the twelve Hong Kong protesters, previously arrested by the Hong Kong police, detained by the Chinese authorities in 2020 on sea after a failed attempt to flee to Taiwan.

In a post on Chinese social media dated August 26, 2020, the China Coast Guard claimed that Guangdong authorities had intercepted a speedboat on August 23 under the suspicion of illegal border crossing, and that more than ten people had been detained. The released coordinates put the incident in the South China Sea, approximately 78 kilometres (48 mi) from Hong Kong Island. On August 27, The Guardian cited two Hong Kong news outlets which reported, based on unnamed sources, that in the incident, a total of 12 people had been detained en route to Taiwan, of whom at least ten were Hong Kong residents. Referring to the same sources, the passengers had included activist Andy Li, who had been arrested on August 10 under charges related to the national security law and released on bail. Hong Kong police chief Chris Tang told media on August 27 that he had heard the reports on the detention, and that the force was actively seeking information from the mainland authorities.[5]

Chinese authorities only released scant information on the situation of the detainees. On September 13, Chinese authorities announced that the detained had been brought to the Yantian Detention Centre in Shenzhen and put under "compulsory criminal detention".[6] In a Twitter message from the same day, mainland government spokesperson Hua Chunying referred to the detainees as "elements" who had intended to separate Hong Kong from mainland China. Authorities repeatedly denied the detainees access to their families' appointed lawyers. Detention authorities claimed that the detainees had accepted government-appointed lawyers, which was denied by the families.[7] Secretary of Security John Lee implied in statements made around that time that the Hong Kong government would not interfere with mainland law enforcement in the case.[8][9]

On December 16, Yantian District authorities announced that a trial hearing was to be held in which the two oldest detainees, Quinn Moon and Tang Kai-yin, would be prosecuted for organising others to cross the border illegally, and eight prosecuted for crossing the border illegally. A trial hearing for the two underage defendants would be closed off to the public;[10] they were returned to Hong Kong police on December 28, where they were facing extra charges for allegedly absconding.[11]

At a December 28 trial – where no relatives, Hong Kong media, or foreign ambassador representatives were allowed to audit the hearing, contrary to what the court said[12] –, eight of the ten defendants of age were sentenced to seven months of prison terms for illegal border crossing.[13] Quinn Moon and Tang Kai-yin were sentenced to terms of two and three years, respectively.[14] The eight defendants of age were returned to Hong Kong police on March 22, 2021. They were held in quarantine upon arrival while local courts began hearings on their cases, with Andy Li being charged under the national security law.[15]

The incident gained attention in Hong Kong and internationally, with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo releasing a press statement on September 11 in which he expressed his concern both about the detainees' welfare as well as their lack of access to family-appointed lawyers.[16] On December 29, 2020, the European Union demanded fair trials and the release of the 12 detainees.[17]

  1. ^ "Hong Kong 12 who fled by boat for Taiwan held in 'criminal detention' by China". the Guardian. September 15, 2020. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  2. ^ "Trials begin for 10 of the 'Hong Kong 12' detained at sea". Al Jazeera. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  3. ^ "Police make fresh arrests over 'Hong Kong 12'". Deutsche Welle. January 14, 2021. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  4. ^ "12 Hongkongers are now being subject to China's murky criminal system - their compatriots should learn what's at stake". Hong Kong Free Press. October 6, 2020. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  5. ^ Kuo, Lily; Davidson, Helen (August 27, 2020). "Twelve arrested at sea while trying to flee to Taiwan from Hong Kong". The Guardian. Archived from the original on December 1, 2020. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
  6. ^ Soo, Zen (September 14, 2020). "China confirms it detained 12 Hong Kongers at sea last month". KSAT / Associated Press. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  7. ^ "China: 12 Hong Kong Protesters Held Incommunicado". Human Rights Watch. September 28, 2020. Archived from the original on November 27, 2020. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  8. ^ "Lee Ka-chiu says HK will not meddle in mainland law enforcement". The Standard. September 14, 2020. Archived from the original on October 27, 2020. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  9. ^ Lau, Jack (September 30, 2020). "Hong Kong national security law: 26 arrests so far, resignation of a foreign judge, and suspension of a middle school pupil mark third month". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on October 13, 2020. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  10. ^ Ho, Kelly (December 17, 2020). "Chinese authorities officially prosecute ten of the 12 Hong Kong fugitives". Hong Kong Free Press. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  11. ^ Sit, Frances (December 30, 2020). "Released detainees face extra charges: police". rthk.hk. Archived from the original on December 30, 2020. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  12. ^ Lung, Natalie; Lindberg, Kari (December 30, 2020). "Hong Kong Activists Caught Fleeing Sentenced to Up to 3 Years in Prison by Mainland Court". Time. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
  13. ^ Soo, Zen (December 30, 2020). "China sentences 10 seeking to flee Hong Kong to prison terms". AP NEWS. Archived from the original on December 30, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  14. ^ "China jails 10 Hong Kong activists, but two under-18s repatriated". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on December 30, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  15. ^ Ho, Kelly (March 24, 2021). "Hong Kong police charge activist Andy Li under security law after release from Chinese prison". Hong Kong Free Press. Archived from the original on May 25, 2022. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  16. ^ Wong, Rachel (September 9, 2020). "Rights lawyer says China may have appointed 'state lawyers' to Hongkonger arrested whilst fleeing by boat". Hong Kong Free Press. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  17. ^ "EU demands China release 12 Hong Kong activists as trial begins". Al Jazeera. December 29, 2020. Retrieved August 7, 2023.