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HONG KONG — Ten Hong Kong activists who have been captured at sea whereas making an attempt to flee to Taiwan in August have been charged in mainland China on Wednesday with unlawful boundary-crossing offenses that might put a few of them behind bars for years.
The case has turn into a focus for Hong Kong’s pro-democracy opposition, which, after months of intense protests final 12 months, has been checked by a wide-ranging crackdown and the imposition of a tricky nationwide safety legislation on the semiautonomous Chinese language territory.
Eight of the group face costs of illegally crossing a boundary, which carries a sentence of as much as one 12 months in jail, prosecutors within the Yantian district of the mainland metropolis of Shenzhen mentioned in a press release. Two others, Tang Kai-yin and Quinn Moon, have been charged with the extra critical offense of organizing the escape try, punishable by as much as seven years.
One other two, who’re juveniles, are attributable to have a separate, closed listening to into their circumstances, however no costs have been introduced. The group ranges in age from 17 to 33.
As many as 200 protesters are believed to have fled to Taiwan, a self-governing island democracy that’s claimed by China, however the route is more and more monitored by the Hong Kong and mainland Chinese language authorities. In trying to flee prosecution in Hong Kong, the group captured at sea face probably jail sentences in mainland China, the place the Communist Social gathering controls courts and convictions in political circumstances are virtually sure.
“Many activists have been compelled to depart Hong Kong, however these are essentially the most critical circumstances that demand essentially the most of our concern,” mentioned Eddie Chu, a former lawmaker who has helped the households of the group. “On the identical time, I feel persons are making an attempt to proceed the motion by actions regarding the 12.”
The 12 have had little contact with their households and have been denied entry to attorneys employed by their family members. As an alternative, they’ve been required to just accept attorneys assigned by the mainland Chinese language authorities, relations and supporters in Hong Kong say.
Final month relations obtained letters from their detained family members, however they mentioned the texts appeared to have been scripted to inform them to not fear. One detainee, Wong Wai-yin, despatched a letter asking relations to enter a responsible plea on his behalf to a cost in Hong Kong, Mr. Chu mentioned.
Members of the group have been beneath investigation or going through costs in Hong Kong in reference to the mass antigovernment protests final 12 months, together with rioting, manufacturing explosives and assaulting cops. One individual on the boat, Andy Li, had been beneath investigation on suspicion of violating the nationwide safety legislation imposed on Hong Kong by Beijing on the finish of June.
The group left a small harbor in northeastern Hong Kong on Aug. 23 and was stopped by the Chinese language Coast Guard about 45 miles southeast of Hong Kong Island. Due to elevated surveillance, no smuggler was prepared to take the group, and as a substitute they piloted the speedboat themselves, in keeping with folks accustomed to their plans.
In October, the Hong Kong police arrested 9 folks suspected of aiding the escape try.
Activists have accused the Hong Kong police of monitoring the escape try however not appearing to cease the group, citing an article in Apple Every day, a Hong Kong newspaper, that examined flight information. Carrie Lam, Hong Kong’s chief govt, has denied any position by the Hong Kong police within the arrests.
Individually, Mrs. Lam watched on Wednesday as two dozen high-ranking officers swore an oath to Hong Kong and its native structure. The oath-taking effort is a part of a broader drive to make sure the loyalty of the town’s 180,000 civil servants, who will start taking the oath within the coming days.
Final 12 months, some civil servants joined within the antigovernment protests that swept the town, unnerving each Beijing and the Hong Kong authorities.
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