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Detention of Hong Kong businessmen in China
Following is the speech by the Secretary for Security, Mr Peter Lai, in the Legislative Council motion debate on detention of Hong Kong businessmen in China today (Wednesday):
Mr President,
The Government shares the concerns that Honourable Members, and the community generally feel for fellow citizens detained in the mainland. We attach the same importance to their well-being when abroad, whether in the mainland or elsewhere, as when they are in Hong Kong, be they businessmen, tourists, employees, students or any other Hong Kong resident.
The Hong Kong Government and the British Government had taken reports of Hong Kong residents detained abroad very seriously, regardless of their nationality or residence status. Obviously Hong Kong residents have to abide by the laws of the place they visit. But, where there is reason to believe that a Hong Kong resident may be unlawfully detained, or held under inhumane circumstances, we seek to represent his interest as best as we can.
The precise actions we are able to take varies according to the circumstances of each case. We have received 20 requests for assistance in the last 4 years concerning Hong Kong residents detained in China. 19 of these cases concerned Hong Kong businessmen. We have taken up all 20 cases with the Chinese authorities. Most of the detainees had been released, but 4 Hong Kong businessmen are still detained in China. We will continue our efforts to bring about early resolution of their cases.
There are, of course, some well-known difficulties in rendering consular type assistance to Hong Kong residents in the mainland. There are legal boundaries beyond which we cannot act. The Hon James To had referred to some of them.
Despite these difficulties, we have in the past taken the following actions:
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we have sought clarification from the authorities concerned of the circumstances under which such Hong Kong residents were detained;
we have sought assurances that the detention is in strict compliance with Chinese law;
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