Fugitives jailed up to three years

Maisy Mok

Ten of 12 Hongkongers caught by mainland authorities as they tried to flee by sea to Taiwan were yesterday jailed for between seven months and three years and together fined more than 100,000 yuan (HK$118,800) at Yantian People's Court in Shenzhen.

Tang Kai-yin, 31, was sentenced to three years in prison and fined 20,000 yuan while Quinn Moon, 33 - the only female in the group - was given two years and a fine of 15,000 yuan.

Both pleaded guilty to organizing the illegal crossing, as did eight who went with them - Andy Li Yu-hin, Cheng Tsz-ho, Cheung Chun-fu, Cheung Ming-yu, Yim Man-him, Lee Tsz-yin, Kok Tsz-lun and Wong Wai-yin.

They were imprisoned for seven months and fined 10,000 yuan each. Their ages range from 18 to 30.

Li is a 30-year-old founding member of pro-democracy group Hong Kong Story. He had been charged in Hong Kong with colluding with foreign powers under the national security law.

Families of the Hongkongers, lawyers, journalists and diplomats were denied entry to the hearing on Monday that lasted for just four hours.

The detention of the 12 - there were also two minors who were sent back to Hong Kong yesterday without charge - has drawn international condemnation.

The verdicts were posted on the website of the Yantian District People's Court, which noted the sentencing hearing was attended by Hong Kong and Shenzhen National People's Congress deputies and others.

The court heard that Tang and Quinn had organized a crossing for the group from Hong Kong to Taiwan in August, and Tang bought a speedboat for the trip.

The two organizers then told the 10 other activists to meet at Po Toi O pier in Sai Kung early on August 23.

Then they set off for Taiwan with Tang at the helm.

But the Shenzhen coast guard intercepted the boat in waters off Guangdong at 8am that day.

Mainland prosecutors approved the arrests of the 12 on September 30.

The Yantian court was said to have taken into account repentance and recommendations of prosecutors in reaching the verdicts.

Tang and Quinn admitted to being the organizers to mitigate in their cases, the court said.

Xinhua News Agency also said the pair organized the crossing attempt with guidance from "a mastermind."

It was under the mastermind that Tang learned about handling the boat, Xinhua said, while Quinn was in charge of contacting others about the plan.

"Tang Kai-yin, Quinn Moon and the other offenders formed a human chain at the pier to deliver materials needed for the illegal crossing such as fuel, food, telescope and satellite phone on the speedboat," it added.

Xinhua also said that when the bid was under way Quinn reported to the mastermind by a satellite phone up to the time they were intercepted.

It added that the group "seriously misunderstood" the mainland judicial system and expressed regrets.

A mainland lawyer appointed by the families said in view of time served the eight detainees could return to Hong Kong on March 24 at the earliest.

The lawyer also said the sentences for Tang and Quinn were too heavy given that they were also accomplices.

The mothers of detainees Wong Wai-yin and Li Tsz-yin urged authorities in Shenzhen to release more details about visiting arrangements for their sons.

And the father of Cheng Tsz-ho said: "This is an unjust judgment, be it a day or seven days. On August 23 the SAR government sent two helicopters to escort the 12 back to the mainland. Every single day they served in the prison was wrong."

According to mainland laws, those who organize people to illegally cross the border are subject to sentences of between two and seven years. An individual illegal border crossing conviction can result in a term of less than two years.

The Hong Kong Government Flying Service was earlier accused of notifying mainland authorities about the group's escape after flight tracking data showed the GFS flew surveillance flights to track the 12 before they were intercepted off Guangdong.