Laser beams illuminate Lion Rock for 12 held in China

Activists organized events on Shatin Hill and in Taipei to remember the 12 who, who fled Hong Kong and were arrested by the coast guard.


Hong Kong (AsiaNews / HKFP) - Democratic activists lit 12 laser beams on Shatin's Lion Rock to commemorate the 12 fugitives who were arrested and are currently being held in China.

Last August, the Chinese coast guard intercepted a speedboat with the 12 activists for having crossed territorial waters. According to unofficial reports, the boat was headed to Taiwan with the 12 who, with the new security law, were facing accusations linked to their involvement in democracy demonstrations last year.

The Chinese government continues to hold them as detainees and is preventing lawyers from taking up their defence by demanding that prisoners choose from a list of lawyers proposed by the government.

Relatives of those arrested - who are prohibited from visiting detainees - have turned to Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam to bring the accused back to the territory, but she has not yet given any response.

In order to ensure that the plight of the 12 is not forgotten an event was organized last night shining colored laser beams onto the hilltop. The demonstration, called "Hong Kong 12", was also held in Taipei.

The Lion Rock, where activists lit the lasers, overlooks the Kowloon Peninsula and can also be seen from Hong Kong Island. In recent years the place has become a key point for displaying giant pro-democracy banners, turning on laser beams or holding demonstrations by turning on the lights of mobile phones.