Activists nabbed in speedboat dash to Taiwan

Guangdong coast guards intercepted a speedboat and detained a dozen Hong Kong fugitives trying to flee to Taiwan, including activist Andy Li Yu-hin.

Li, who was arrested in Hong Kong on August 10 along with media mogul Jimmy Lai Chee-ying before being released on bail after allegedly breaching the national security law, is understood to be one of the fleeing dozen.

A member of localist group Hong Kong Story, Li spoke at a press conference of pro-independence group Stand With Hong Kong Fight For Freedom. He was charged with colluding with foreign powers and money laundering.

Some of the other fugitives nabbed with Li were suspected of having links to a home-made bomb planted outside Wah Yan College in Wan Chai last December and materials to make petrol bombs found in Wan Chai last September, sources say.

The arrested fugitives include four members of the so-called "Dragon Slayers," a team of radical protesters during the year-long social unrest.

The 12 "illegal border-crossers" were caught at about 9pm last Sunday, said the Guangdong Coast Guard's Weibo post published on Wednesday night.

One of the suspect surnamed Li and another surnamed Tang were among the suspects, it said, adding that the case was still under investigation.

The boat was intercepted 60km off China's Dangan Island in the South China Sea.

Sources said the speedboat was arranged by Hong Kong triads and sailed from Po Toi O in Sai Kung last Sunday morning.

They headed east in an attempt to reach Taiwan, where they planned to apply for asylum. It is understood they were still detained in Guangdong. The 12 intended to sail direct to Pingtung city of Taiwan, said Radio Free Asia, funded by the US government.

Earlier, two groups of activists fled to Kaohsiung and the Pratas Islands administered by Taiwan.

The deputy minister of Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council, Chiu Chui-Cheng, warned about entering the island by illegal means. Those doing so would face investigation of criminal liability as well as "extremely huge risks of personal safety," Chiu said.

The island has already established a mechanism to deal with Hongkongers seeking help for political reasons, Chiu said.

He vowed to handle such cases based on humanitarian principles, while condemning Hong Kong police for making multiple arrests of opposition figures.

"You cannot solve social conflicts or gain approval from the public by arresting and suppressing people," Chiu said.

The Commissioner of Police, Chris Tang Ping-keung, said the force was aware of the arrests, although it had not received information from mainland authorities.

"The operation was not a cross-border one, and Hong Kong police were not involved," he said at a press conference at marine regional headquarters in Sai Wan Ho.

"We learned about the incident from the news, just like everyone else."

In general, a case involving a Hongkonger who crossed the border illegally to the mainland would be handled according to China's laws, and mainland authorities would notify their counterparts in the SAR, Tang said.

If the person is wanted in Hong Kong as well, he or she would be transferred back to the city after the proceedings are completed in the mainland.

Under China's criminal laws, a stowaway can face a maximum of one year in jail, or a maximum of three years in prison if his or her purpose is to join terrorist activities.

Barrister Albert Luk Wai-hung said: "Since the 12 people were arrested in China's jurisdiction, they will be taken to court and complete their sentences in mainland under the law of the People's Republic of China, before being sent back to Hong Kong."

If the defendants had committed other crimes in the SAR, they might also be prosecuted here after returning.

Sing Tao Daily - The Standard's sister paper - has previously reported on anti-government protesters who sneaked into the mainland with fake mainland ID cards and escaped to Taiwan by sea.

Local police have beefed up efforts to intercept boats carrying such people in the water near Tuen Mun.