The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will not request the Mainland authorities to return the 12 absconded suspects to Hong Kong before completion of the legal proceedings on the Mainland.

Secretary for Security John Lee made the statement when answering lawmakers’ questions in the Legislative Council today.

He said that every individual should take responsibility for their own actions.

“The Hong Kong SAR Government definitely will not do so, as this would encourage more people to abscond by jumping bail and condone the criminals' intentional evasion of legal liabilities. It is entirely improper to let such a wrong act of abscondence sustain.”

Mr Lee added that the Hong Kong SAR Government respected the Mainland authorities' handling of the case.

“The Hong Kong SAR Government will not interfere with, and will respect, the Mainland law enforcement authorities' handling of the case in accordance with the local laws, regulations and judicial systems, in the same way as we expect our legal and judicial systems to be respected.”

He also noted that after receiving requests for assistance from the absconded suspects' families, the Immigration Department (ImmD) and the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office in Guangdong (GDETO) have followed up the incidents and provided assistance.

Mr Lee pointed out they have informed the families of the Mainland's laws and regulations as well as expedited the issue of the required Certificates of Registered Particulars as proof of their relationship at the request of individual family members.

As at October 19, the family members have made a total of 29 different written requests, including those for medication and bail. The ImmD relayed the requests to the Mainland authorities via the GDETO according to the mechanism.

The GDETO has also enquired about the suspects' health from the relevant Mainland authorities and has been given to understand that a suitable medical diagnosis would be provided as necessary.

Mr Lee said the Mainland authorities have stated that the legal rights of the arrestees will be lawfully protected.

On the issue of lawyers, the security chief noted that the 12 absconded suspects have respectively appointed two lawyers.

He said the Hong Kong SAR Government has relayed to the Mainland authorities in accordance with the mechanism the requests of some family members for information on the appointed lawyers.

The Mainland authorities expressed that they would act in accordance with the law, Mr Lee added.