Returnee From Shenzhen Charged Under Security Law

One of the 12 Hongkongers caught by mainland authorities during an alleged bid to flee by speedboat to Taiwan last summer has been charged with the national security law offence of "colluding with foreign forces".

Andy Li, 30, was one of the eight men handed over to the SAR by Shenzhen authorities on Monday, after they completed prison terms for "illegally crossing the border".

His national security case is linked to that of media tycoon Jimmy Lai, with both men accused of calling on foreign countries to impose sanctions on Hong Kong.

Li has also been charged with conspiring to assist "criminals" in relation to the speedboat trip, as well as possessing unlicensed ammunition – namely spent tear gas canisters and other crowd control munitions fired by police at protesters.

He did not appear for a hearing at West Kowloon Magistracy and like the other seven Hongkongers brought back to the territory, Li is in quarantine.

Two other detainees returned to Hong Kong in December after prosecutors decided not to put them on trial due to their young age, while two others received longer prison terms and remain in jail in Guangdong.

The Shenzhen detainees were accused of protest-related offences before they left the SAR last August. (Additional reporting by AFP)