#ChinaCoastGuard #SouthChinaSea
China Detains At Least 10 Hongkongers Reportedly Fleeing to Taiwan

The China Coast Guard announced on their Weibo on August 26, 2020. At 9 o'clock on August 23, 2020 (no indication of morning or afternoon), the China Coast Guard intercepted a cross-border vessel outside Hong Kong’s southeastern waters (21°54'00''N, 114°53'00''E) and captured at least ten people who were "suspected of illegally crossing the border" including "someone named Li" and "someone named Tang".

According to Stand News and Radio Free Asia, there were 12 young Hongkongers on board heading to Taiwan at the time. "Someone named Li" referred to by the China Coast Guard is Andy Yu-hin Li, who had recently be charged with national security violations. All of them had participated in the pro-democracy protests. Some are currently on bail awaiting trial after being arrested in Hong Kong.

These Hong Kong youth are now being detained by the China Coast Guard and the Chinese police are "investigating".

According to the Criminal Law in China, the Public Security Bureau can file a case against stowaways with criminal responsibility. The stowaways will be sentenced to imprisonment of up to one year before being deported to Hong Kong.

Among the Hong Kong youth detained, Andy Li is a member of "Hong Kong Story", a group that promotes the responsibility of election inspectors. On August 10, 2020, he was arrested by the National Security Service of the Hong Kong Police Force. On the same day, Apple Daily’s founder Jimmy Lai, his two sons and Next Media's senior management were also arrested. They all had their travelling documents confiscated by the authorities.

Source: Stand News; RFA #Aug27
#AntiELAB #Taiwan #NationalSecurityLaw #AndyLi #ExtraditionToChina