London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Wednesday, Jul 30, 2025

Global rallies call for release of 12 Hongkongers detained in mainland China

Global rallies call for release of 12 Hongkongers detained in mainland China

Speaking at London’s Tower Bridge, activist Nathan Law demands ‘democracy and autonomy’ in first public speech since fleeing city.

Supporters of 12 Hong Kong fugitives detained in mainland China for more than two months staged demonstrations around the world at the weekend calling for their release, ahead of an online event conducted by relatives hoping to bolster support.

The demonstrations follow numerous activists and sympathisers – Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg among them– taking to social media in recent weeks, posting photos of themselves alongside the message “#save12hkyouths”.

The Hongkongers were intercepted by the Chinese coastguard in late August as they attempted to flee to Taiwan to escape prosecution at home for offences mostly stemming from last year’s anti-government protests.


Demonstrators gather in front of London’s Tower Bridge in support of 12 Hong Kong fugitives now detained in mainland China.


One, 29-year-old activist Andy Li, was arrested under Beijing’s sweeping new national security law for the city, which criminalises acts of secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with external forces.

The Hong Kong event was streamed on a Facebook page dedicated to the cause, attracting more than 8,000 viewers at the peak. In a local studio, activist Gwyneth Ho Kwai-lam interviewed relatives of some of the detainees, who urged local deputies of the National People’s Congress to help them liaise with the central government for the return of their loved ones.

The wife of Wong Wai-yin said family members were disappointed the Hong Kong government had been reluctant to offer assistance.

“In China, only respected people can become NPC deputies,” she said. “They can have access to central government people.”

The father of Cheng Tsz-ho said: “If they can help liaise with the central government, there will be a higher chance the Hong Kong people can be released sooner.”

He called his son an “innocent, good boy” who might struggle with the circumstances of his confinement.

“They do not necessarily need to beat you, but just put you in an isolated cell” he said. “I very much worry that he will not be able to withstand it.”

Political activist Joshua Wong Chi-fung also appeared, saying: “That we could mobilise so many overseas Hongkongers and supporters to join forces to make their voices heard is a significant message – that is, despite the imposition of the national security law, we have not given up our fight and the world has not given up concern about Hongkongers.”

In London, where Saturday’s largest rally took place, Hong Kong activist Nathan Law Kwun-chung spoke to a crowd gathered near the Tower Bridge, his first public speech since going into self-imposed exile after the security law was imposed on June 30.

“It’s an important time to vow our support to the Hong Kong people and the 12 detained in mainland China,” he said. “Our demand is simple: democracy and autonomy. And we will not give up.”


Joshua Wong urges residents to join an online rally in support of 12 Hongkongers currently detained in mainland China.


Benedict Rogers, an activist who founded the group Hong Kong Watch, and Luke De Pulford, who sits on the British Conservative Party’s Human Rights Commission, also attended.

“They are in a prison in China,” Rogers said. “And we are here to cry out to the world to say free the 12 Hongkongers. Return them to Hong Kong.”

“If [their return] cannot happen immediately, at least allow them to have lawyers of their choice, to have medical access if they needed, to have contact with their family.”

There were also rallies in New York and San Francisco, Brisbane and Melbourne, as well as in Sweden, Germany, the Netherlands and Italy. In Taipei, 3,000 people took part in a march on Sunday, according to organiser Hong Kong Outlanders.

Taiwan’s National Immigration Agency said it deported Hongkonger Lee Pun-ho for tailing and photographing activist Tony Chung Hon-lam when Chung was in Taiwan last year.

Lee was accused of following the former convenor of pro-independence group Studentlocalism and providing snapshots to pro-Beijing newspapers in Hong Kong. Lee has been banned from entering Taiwan for an unspecified period of time.

Attempts by lawyers appointed by the families to meet the detainees have repeatedly been rejected by mainland authorities, who have said each is already represented by two lawyers.

Shenzhen authorities confirmed last month 10 in the group were arrested on suspicion of illegally crossing the border, while the other two were held for organising the crossing, a more serious charge that carries a potential seven-year sentence.

Despite calls for the Hong Kong government to provide assistance and bring them back, local authorities have said the 12 would first have to be dealt with in accordance with mainland law.

Hong Kong police earlier this month arrested nine people on suspicion of helping the fugitives. They stand accused of providing funding, arranging a speedboat and organising hideouts in Hong Kong and Taiwan for the fugitives.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Former Judge Charged After Drunk Driving Crash Kills Comedian in Brazil
Jeff Bezos hasn’t paid a dollar in taxes for decades. He makes billions and pays $0 in taxes, LEGALLY
China Increases Use of Exit Bans Amid Rising U.S. Tensions
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Procter & Gamble to Raise U.S. Prices to Offset One‑Billion‑Dollar Tariff Cost
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
Botswana Seeks Controlling Stake in De Beers as Anglo American Prepares Exit
Trump Administration Proposes Repeal of Obama‑Era Endangerment Finding, Dismantling Regulatory Basis for CO₂ Emissions Limits
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
A family has been arrested in the UK for displaying the British flag
Mel Gibson refuses to work with Robert De Niro, saying, "Keep that woke clown away from me."
Trump Steamrolls EU in Landmark Trade Win: US–EU Trade Deal Imposes 15% Tariff on European Imports
ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman says people share personal info with ChatGPT but don’t know chats can be used as court evidence in legal cases.
The British propaganda channel BBC News lies again.
Deputy attorney general's second day of meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell has concluded
Controversial March in Switzerland Features Men Dressed in Nazi Uniforms
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
Thai Civilian Death Toll Rises to 12 in Cambodian Cross-Border Attacks
TSUNAMI: Trump Just Crossed the Rubicon—And There’s No Turning Back
Over 120 Criminal Cases Dismissed in Boston Amid Public Defender Shortage
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
Trump Announces $550 Billion Japanese Investment and New Trade Agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines
US Treasury Secretary Calls for Institutional Review of Federal Reserve Amid AI‑Driven Growth Expectations
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Severe Flooding in South Korea Claims Lives Amid Ongoing Rescue Operations
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
US Revokes Visas of Brazilian Corrupted Judges Amid Fake Bolsonaro Investigation
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
North Korea Restricts Foreign Tourist Access to New Seaside Resort
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
Epstein Files Deepen Republican Party Divide
Zuckerberg Faces $8 Billion Privacy Lawsuit From Meta Shareholders
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
SpaceX Nears $400 Billion Valuation With New Share Sale
×