Relatives of a dozen Hong Kong residents who have been detained in mainland China for more than 3 1/2 months made a plea Saturday to be informed of the timing of any trials and whether they can attend.
The request underscored the sharp contrast between the relatively open legal system in Hong Kong, a semi-autonomous Chinese territory, and that of the mainland, where often little information is divulged until a trial is over.
“I miss my son so much,” the mother of Wong Wai-yin, one of the detainees, said, choking up. “I want to visit him so badly. I haven’t seen my son in a very long time — it’s almost four months. Please tell me (about the trial). I’m just an ordinary mother.” The 12 were arrested at sea in August while they were apparently making a bid to flee to Taiwan after a tough national security law took effect in Hong Kong earlier this year.
They were picked up after entering mainland waters for crossing the maritime border without permission.