By Christine Khamis  

Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

BEIJING, China –

Britain has accused China of abducting Hong Kong bookseller Lee Bo to the Chinese mainland. It also claims that China has breached the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration under which Hong Kong transitioned from British colonial rule to partial control by Beijing. According to Britain’s Foreign Office, the violation is the first serious breach of the Sino-British treaty.

In a biannual report on Hong Kong affairs, British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond stated that Mr. Lee was “involuntarily removed” to China’s mainland without due process under Hong Kong law. The report is issued to Britain’s Parliament and reviews the state of Hong Kong and Britain’s ties.

A spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hong Lei, has rejected Britain’s report. Mr. Hong states that Hong Kong affairs are a domestic issue for China and that other countries have no power to meddle, according to the New York Times.

Mr. Lee, who holds a British passport, went missing in late December. Chinese police confirmed that he was in China, had traveled there voluntarily, and did not wish to be in contact with Hong Kong officials.

Mr. Lee is associated with publishing house Mighty Current Media. Mighty Current is known for publishing gossip-style books about Chinese leaders. The publisher has released books about topics that many other publishers avoid covering, such as Chinese president Xi Jinping’s love affairs.

Four of Mr. Lee’s colleagues have also disappeared recently, including Gui Minhai, a Swedish citizen who vanished in Thailand in October. In January, Mr. Gui appeared on Chinese news sources stating that he had voluntarily returned to China to make amends for violating his probation there in 2003.

Under the Sino-British treaty, Hong Kong reverted back to China’s control in 1997 but is allowed liberal civil freedoms including freedom of speech, freedom of press, and a separate legal system. However, there has recently been much unrest among citizens of Hong Kong due to China’s increasing infringements on its autonomy. 

 

For more information, please see:

The Free Press Journal – UK Accuses China of Violating Treaty in HK Bookseller’s Case – 13 February 2016

Associated Press – UK: Hong Kong Bookseller ‘Removed’ in Breach of China Treaty – 12 February 2016.

The Hong Kong Standard – UK accuses China of violating pact over bookseller Lee’s removal – 12 February 2016

The New York Times – UK: Hong Kong Bookseller ‘Removed’ in Breach of China Treaty – 12 February 2016

The New York Times – Britain Accuses China of Violating Treaty in Hong Kong Bookseller’s Case – 12 February 2016