Beijing, Dec. 30, (dpa/GNA) – Ten people accused of fleeing Hong Kong for Taiwan were handed prison sentences of up to three years by a south China court on Wednesday.
The defendants were among 12 Hong Kong residents who attempted to flee to Taiwan on a speedboat in August but were captured by the maritime police of Shenzhen, in south China.
Two people accused of organizing illegal border crossings were sentenced to three and two years in prison respectively, while the other eight received seven-month prison sentences for illegal border crossing, according to the Yantian District People’s Court.
Among the latter group was Andy Li, a prominent figure in Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement.
Two underage members of the group, which is also known as “Hong Kong 12,” were initially not convicted and, according to Hong Kong media reports, will return to Hong Kong on Wednesday to be handed over to police.
A number of Hong Kong activists have recently fled to Taiwan or other states out of fear of prosecution under the city’s new national security law, which has ushered in a crackdown on the territory’s democratic opposition.
Family members of the defendants said they have been denied access to their loved ones and that the defendants were unable to choose their legal representation.
At the start of the trial on Monday, diplomats from several Western countries gathered in front of the courthouse, but they were refused entry.
Beijing’s enactment in June of a Hong Kong national security law has led to a swift crackdown on democratic freedoms in the previously semi-autonomous city. The law targets secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces in the financial hub.
A 19-year-old Hong Kong activist on Tuesday was handed a four-month prison sentence for insulting the Chinese flag and taking part in an unauthorized protest last year.
GNA