HONG KONG - Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said on Tuesday that the 12 people who were arrested by mainland law enforcement agencies over illegal entry and are wanted by the Hong Kong police must first complete legal proceedings in the mainland.

Last month, 12 Hong Kong residents left Hong Kong by illegal means and were arrested in the mainland waters by mainland law enforcement agencies, who have notified Hong Kong police of the incident according to the reciprocal notification mechanism. The 12 are suspected of being involved in seven cases in Hong Kong.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam said the HKSAR government will follow its usual practice to bring the arrested persons back to Hong Kong after they have completed legal proceedings on the mainland

Lam told the media ahead of an Executive Council meeting that the HKSAR government will follow its usual practice to bring the arrested persons back to Hong Kong after they have completed legal proceedings on the mainland. Meanwhile, the HKSAR government will offer assistance to the relatives of the 12 people.

ALSO READ: Lam: Mainland investigating 12 HK fugitives 'appropriate'

When taking questions in regard to a murder case that took place in Taiwan in 2018 involving Hong Kong resident Chan Tong-kai, who allegedly killed his girlfriend and fled to Hong Kong, Lam said Chan has completed his sentence for the crimes he committed in Hong Kong. The HKSAR government has no legal basis to take further action against him, and has not received any response from Taiwan on this case.

As there has been no arrangement of mutual legal assistance or surrender of fugitive offenders between Hong Kong and Taiwan, Chan could not be transferred to Taiwan for trial.

READ MORE: Taiwan's refusal of Chan's self-surrender draws fire

Chan felt remorse and was willing to bear the legal responsibility and surrender to Taiwan, Lam said, adding that the HKSAR government will offer him help.

To safeguard the rule of law and justice and plug legal loopholes, the HKSAR government proposed the amendments to the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance and Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Ordinance in February 2019. However, Hong Kong's opposition and radical forces kept using this as an excuse to instigate violence, and the HKSAR government withdrew the bill.