The families of 12 Hong Kong youths detained by China for smuggling have asked four lawyers to visit them at the Shenzhen Yantian District Detention Center on Wednesday (Sept. 23), but were denied access.
Hong Kong media reported that the detention center told the four lawyers that the clients had hired two lawyers and no longer needed new ones, and refused to meet with them.
This is the latest effort by the families of the detained Hong Kong youths to gain access to their children.
The four attorneys are Liang Xiaojun, Fan Biaowen, Wu Li and Song Yusheng. They all have experience in handling mainland rights cases.
Last month, the twelve were intercepted by a Chinese mainland coast guard ship while allegedly on their way to Taiwan and taken to the Yantian Detention Center in Shenzhen. They were between the ages of 16 and 33. They are wanted by Hong Kong police for their involvement in anti-government protests in Hong Kong.
Up to now, the families have unsuccessfully asked their lawyers to visit them several times.
Lawyers angry at Shenzhen police for “hooliganism”
Liang Xiaojun said that the staff there received the lawyers one by one and asked each of them to show the notarized power of attorney document. Lawyer Pham Bac Van had an argument with them. He said, “If you don’t allow them to see us, and you ask for a notarized document, you are playing with us, aren’t you?
After the 12 young men were detained in China, their families asked the Hong Kong government to help their families or lawyers visit them and find out how they were doing. However, Mrs. Lam said the case is under Chinese jurisdiction and there is nothing the Hong Kong government can do.
However, Hong Kong Security Secretary Li Ka-chiu said last Sunday that the 12 had already chosen lawyers from a list provided by mainland authorities. His statement was strongly criticized by Hong Kong public opinion.
Zhang Yaoliang, a Hong Kong barrister familiar with China’s judicial situation, slammed the Hong Kong government for “hypocrisy. Zhang said that the Hong Kong government, without anyone personally confirming the status of the 12 people, said that they had appointed lawyers according to a list provided by China and were in good health. Zhang Yao Liang questioned the Hong Kong government’s communication with Chinese police, but its failure to fight for the legal rights of the detained Hong Kong people.
Zhang Yao Liang was quoted in Apple Daily as saying, “You’ve created a pipeline, so it’s better to say we (the Hong Kong government) want to help him, okay? It’s very simple: can his family bring a letter to him? Can these 12 people take a letter to their families to tell them they are safe?”
One of the reasons the Chinese authorities denied the individuals contact with the outside world was that they were suspected of violating national security laws.
Zhang Yaoliang, however, did not accept this explanation. He questioned whether Chinese authorities were detaining the men in order to collect and build an intelligence network related to Hong Kong’s anti-sending-China campaign.
Zhang Yao Liang said everyone now has a cell phone, Facebook, several social media, and many contacts. The mainland police are just trying to find this information from them.
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