China trial of ‘Hong Kong 12’ begins

The trial in China of a group of Hong Kong pro-democracy activists who tried to escape the city by speedboat for sanctuary in Taiwan opened yesterday, as the United States urged the immediate release of dissidents it says "fled tyranny".

Ten of the so-called "Hong Kong 12" were in court in the southern city of Shenzhen facing charges linked to an illegal border crossing.

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Chinese authorities took them into custody after their boat was intercepted on August 23.

The hearing began as scheduled yesterday afternoon, AFP understands, and was likely to run into the evening.

But court officials would confirm nothing about the case and the trial -- like many in China's opaque legal system -- was not open to foreign reporters or diplomats.