In this August 10, 2019, photo, a cyclist rides past graffiti that reads “Free HK” in the Tai Wai area of Hong Kong. (Photo by Anthony WALLACE / AFP FILE)
Hong Kong, China — A Hong Kong democracy activist who made a failed escape to Taiwan by speedboat was charged with a national security crime on Wednesday, a day after he was returned to the city by Chinese police.
Andy Li, 30, was one of 12 “speedboat fugitives” who were picked up by Chinese coastguard last August as they made a bid to escape charges linked to taking part in 2019’s democracy protests.
They were jailed in mainland China for illegal border crossing and eight of them were returned to Hong Kong custody on Monday after serving their sentences.
On Wednesday police said Li had now been charged with colluding with foreign forces, one of the crimes outlawed in a sweeping national security law that Beijing imposed on the territory last year.
His case is linked to that of Jimmy Lai, a pro-democracy media tycoon who is currently in custody on national security charges because he allegedly advocated for sanctions against Hong Kong.
A court charging sheet obtained by AFP on Wednesday showed police accuse Li of conspiring with Lai to get foreign countries to “impose sanctions” on the financial hub’s leaders.
He was also charged with conspiring to assist criminals during his attempted escape to Taiwan and a count of possessing unlicensed ammunition.
That latter charge stems from Li possessing spent tear gas canisters and other crowd control munitions that were fired by police at protesters, according to the charge sheet.
China and Hong Kong’s authorities have used the national security law to hammer the city’s democracy movement after 2019’s huge and often violent demonstrations.
More than 100 people have been arrested under the law since it was enacted in June.
Most of those charged are denied bail. The maximum penalty for those convicted is life in prison.