HONG KONG: Relatives of Hong Kongers captured by China’s coastguard as they tried to flee the city by speedboat said Saturday they feared their loved ones had disappeared into the authoritarian mainland’s Communist-controlled judicial system.

Chinese authorities said they intercepted 12 Hong Kongers some 70 kilometers (43 miles) southeast of the city last month, with the group handed over to police in neighboring Shenzhen on the Chinese mainland.