Mainland Lawyer Who Helped HKers 'harassed'

One of the mainland lawyers hired by family members of the 12 Hongkongers captured in mainland waters by the Guangdong coast guard last year has complained he was harassed by officials on Tuesday – a day before he faces a hearing that could see him stripped of his legal licence.

Lu Siwei said he was about to drive off on Tuesday afternoon when two cars suddenly drove up and blocked his way.

He said the drivers claimed to be officials from the Ministry of Justice, and asked him not to leave. He responded by calling the police, then taking video of what happened next.

When officers arrived, he asked them if they knew the ‘officials’, to which an officer said no.

They then allowed the men to leave, prompting Lu to protest angrily.

“Is this a joke? You didn’t confirm their identity, right? I can lodge complaints or even prosecute you over your actions,” Lu said, according to a video he purportedly took.

Lu is one of two lawyers who helped family members of the 12 young Hongkongers to be told his licence to practice law may be revoked.

The Department of Justice in Sichuan had said Lu had repeatedly made inappropriate remarks on the internet, seriously damaged the image of the legal sector and had an adverse impact on society.

Authorities there said what he did had violated relevant laws governing lawyers.

He is scheduled to attend a hearing on the possible revocation of his licence in Chengdu on Wednesday.

Another lawyer who had also helped the 12 HongKongers, Ren Quanniu, has been told to attend a separate hearing in Henan next week.

The families of the 12 Hongkongers have condemned what they said was clear oppression by the mainland authorities, alleging that the action against the lawyers is retribution for their involvement in the detainees' case.

Ten of the detainees were last week sentenced to between seven months and three years in jail for allegedly crossing into mainland waters last August while apparently trying to flee to Taiwan. The other two detainees, who were minors, were sent back to Hong Kong.