Andy Li Yu-hin, one of the eight fugitives sent back to Hong Kong on Monday, has been laid with three charges including collusion with foreign forces.

His case was mentioned in West Kowloon magistrates' courts yesterday, presided by national security designated magistrate Victor So Wai-tak, in Li's absence, as he is undergoing a 14-day quarantine.

The 30-year-old Li and seven other fugitives were handed over by authorities at Shenzhen Bay Port on Monday after completing their seven-month sentences for illegally crossing Chinese waters in an attempt to flee to Taiwan.

He was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit collusion with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security, another count of conspiracy to assist offender and a third for possession of ammunition without a license.

His national security charge was linked to at least four people - media mogul Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, Lai's aide Mark Herman Simon, legal assistant Chan Tsz-wah and wanted activist Finn Lau Cho-dick, who is now in London.

They allegedly conspired to "request a foreign country or an institution, organization or individual to impose sanctions or blockage, or engage in other hostile activities against HKSAR or the People's Republic of China," between July 1 and February 15.

As for "conspiracy to assist offender," the offense allegedly took place on an unknown day between July and August 23.

The particulars stated that after Li allegedly committed the offense "knowing or believing" he was guilty of it, he conspired with Lai and Chan to depart from Hong Kong to Taiwan with the intent of impeding his prosecution.

On the possession of ammunition without a license count, he is alleged to have 232 used tear gas cans, seven used foam rounds and 38 used rubber baton rounds in a flat at Hilton Plaza in Sha Tin.

He was not represented by any lawyer in court yesterday and is under the custody of Hong Kong Correctional Services in the meantime. The case has been adjourned till Wednesday.

As of the seven others who returned with Li, they are involved in five separate cases and have all been charged by the court before fleeing on a speedboat in August. Their cases were heard on Tuesday in their absence as they are also under quarantine. They remain in the custody of Correctional Services pending their trial on Wednesday and on April 8.

Andy Li

Andy Li charged under national security law