Posted on Jun 21, 2016
Kidnapped bookseller escapes Chinese captors - Political Unrest - WORLD
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The title and subject seemed like a modern day thriller which pitted a Hong Kong bookseller against mainland Chinese authorities. Kidnapping, coercion are not what I expect when going to a bookstore :-)
I have loved books since I was a child and it saddens me when bookstores are booksellers are threatened.
The full text of the article is below:
CHINA | Dispute over free press sharpens criticism of Beijing in Hong Kong
by June Cheng
Posted 6/21/16, 08:48 am
Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying vowed action after one of the five missing Hong Kong booksellers revealed Chinese authorities kidnapped him and secretly detained him for months, violating the “one country, two systems” principle that promised autonomy to the former British colony.
Lam Wing-kee, who went missing in October, said Chinese authorities allowed him to return to Hong Kong last week to retrieve a hard drive with the names of his mainland customers. As he stood outside a convenience store in Hong Kong smoking a cigarette, he instead decided to stay and make his ordeal public.
“It wasn’t just about the bookstore. It was about Hong Kong,” Lam told CNN.
Lam and the four other booksellers who went missing are all connected with Mighty Current, a publishing house that specializes in gossipy books about China’s top leaders. Such books are banned in mainland China, making their publication a booming industry in Hong Kong and a concern to China’s elite. Since the booksellers’ disappearances, Hong Kong bookstores have stopped selling sensitive books, a shackle on the area’s once-robust free press.
In February, the booksellers “confessed” on Chinese television that they voluntarily turned themselves in for illegally distributing banned books in mainland China. Publisher Gui Minhai, a Swedish citizen, said in his televised confession that he returned to China to deal with a hit-and-run accident from 12 years ago. Testifying in front of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, Gui’s daughter, Angela, said she believed the confession was staged and urged international leaders to push for her father’s release. Gui remains in detention in China.
Lam said Chinese special forces kidnapped him as he crossed the border into China on Oct. 24. After they blindfolded and handcuffed him, they drove to a detention center in Ningbo, where they held him in solitary confinement and interrogated him about his company’s authors and customers. Lam said he was not physically tortured, but the psychological torture made him consider suicide. Five months later, officials transferred him to a room in Guangdong where they kept him under house arrest.
“I am a Hongkonger, I am a free man, I did not break any law in Hong Kong, but I was arrested without any reason,” Lam told Hong Kong reporters. He also said the televised confessions were all scripted.
But Lam’s colleagues accused him of lying, claiming in an article in the pro-Beijing newspaper Sing Tao Daily they returned to China and confessed of their own volition. The article also quoted Lam’s mainland girlfriend, who said Lam lied to her about the legality of the books she helped him mail to mainland clients.
Lam’s revelations brought more than 1,000 protesters into Hong Kong’s streets last weekend as China continues its encroachment into Hong Kong. In an effort to assuage the public, Leung said he would write to Beijing concerning Lam’s case and review a notification system for when residents are detained by mainland authorities in mainland China.
Albert Ho, a pro-democracy lawmaker, told CNN he was disappointed by Leung’s meager response.
“This is utterly disappointing,” he said. “What Hong Kong people need is not a letter.” COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. MAJ David Wallace LTC (Join to see) CW5 (Join to see) SMSgt Minister Gerald A. "Doc" Thomas SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT SGT John " Mac " McConnell SP5 Mark Kuzinski Maj William W. 'Bill' Price SrA Christopher Wright SGT Robert George Capt Seid Waddell 1stSgt Eugene Harless SSG Leo Bell SSgt Robert Marx SSgt (Join to see)
I have loved books since I was a child and it saddens me when bookstores are booksellers are threatened.
The full text of the article is below:
CHINA | Dispute over free press sharpens criticism of Beijing in Hong Kong
by June Cheng
Posted 6/21/16, 08:48 am
Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying vowed action after one of the five missing Hong Kong booksellers revealed Chinese authorities kidnapped him and secretly detained him for months, violating the “one country, two systems” principle that promised autonomy to the former British colony.
Lam Wing-kee, who went missing in October, said Chinese authorities allowed him to return to Hong Kong last week to retrieve a hard drive with the names of his mainland customers. As he stood outside a convenience store in Hong Kong smoking a cigarette, he instead decided to stay and make his ordeal public.
“It wasn’t just about the bookstore. It was about Hong Kong,” Lam told CNN.
Lam and the four other booksellers who went missing are all connected with Mighty Current, a publishing house that specializes in gossipy books about China’s top leaders. Such books are banned in mainland China, making their publication a booming industry in Hong Kong and a concern to China’s elite. Since the booksellers’ disappearances, Hong Kong bookstores have stopped selling sensitive books, a shackle on the area’s once-robust free press.
In February, the booksellers “confessed” on Chinese television that they voluntarily turned themselves in for illegally distributing banned books in mainland China. Publisher Gui Minhai, a Swedish citizen, said in his televised confession that he returned to China to deal with a hit-and-run accident from 12 years ago. Testifying in front of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, Gui’s daughter, Angela, said she believed the confession was staged and urged international leaders to push for her father’s release. Gui remains in detention in China.
Lam said Chinese special forces kidnapped him as he crossed the border into China on Oct. 24. After they blindfolded and handcuffed him, they drove to a detention center in Ningbo, where they held him in solitary confinement and interrogated him about his company’s authors and customers. Lam said he was not physically tortured, but the psychological torture made him consider suicide. Five months later, officials transferred him to a room in Guangdong where they kept him under house arrest.
“I am a Hongkonger, I am a free man, I did not break any law in Hong Kong, but I was arrested without any reason,” Lam told Hong Kong reporters. He also said the televised confessions were all scripted.
But Lam’s colleagues accused him of lying, claiming in an article in the pro-Beijing newspaper Sing Tao Daily they returned to China and confessed of their own volition. The article also quoted Lam’s mainland girlfriend, who said Lam lied to her about the legality of the books she helped him mail to mainland clients.
Lam’s revelations brought more than 1,000 protesters into Hong Kong’s streets last weekend as China continues its encroachment into Hong Kong. In an effort to assuage the public, Leung said he would write to Beijing concerning Lam’s case and review a notification system for when residents are detained by mainland authorities in mainland China.
Albert Ho, a pro-democracy lawmaker, told CNN he was disappointed by Leung’s meager response.
“This is utterly disappointing,” he said. “What Hong Kong people need is not a letter.” COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. MAJ David Wallace LTC (Join to see) CW5 (Join to see) SMSgt Minister Gerald A. "Doc" Thomas SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT SGT John " Mac " McConnell SP5 Mark Kuzinski Maj William W. 'Bill' Price SrA Christopher Wright SGT Robert George Capt Seid Waddell 1stSgt Eugene Harless SSG Leo Bell SSgt Robert Marx SSgt (Join to see)
Kidnapped bookseller escapes Chinese captors - Political Unrest - WORLD
Posted from world.wng.org
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China
Hong Kong
Edited 8 y ago
Posted 8 y ago
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LTC Stephen F. Since the United Kingdom handed over control, Hong Kong is part of China. It may still be given a little latitude because of its previous ties to the west, but it is still a part of China. I am really surprised that they allow private book stores. Book stores are a repository for information. Information leads to free thinking. Free thinking leads to people wanting freedom in other aspects of their life as well. Next thing you know, Tienenman Square
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LTC Stephen F.
China is a diverse group of cultures in many ways similar to the old USSR PO3 Steven Sherrill SSG (Join to see). While Mandarin is the dominant and official language spoken many other languages exist within China which has many distinct cultures from the Mongols to the Muslims in the west.
Some close friends of mine have a school in southern China which teaches English in a traditional school curriculum which includes Latin, logic, Christianity, as well as the more common disciplines. They travel there twice a year for welcoming new students and the graduation ceremony at the end of the school year. The adult son of a friend of our is a full-time teacher at that school. Traveling to and from the school has varied as the relationship between our government and China's has changed over time.
Large parts of China are still wedded to Mao and the communist system. Some areas are freer but it varies by location.
Some close friends of mine have a school in southern China which teaches English in a traditional school curriculum which includes Latin, logic, Christianity, as well as the more common disciplines. They travel there twice a year for welcoming new students and the graduation ceremony at the end of the school year. The adult son of a friend of our is a full-time teacher at that school. Traveling to and from the school has varied as the relationship between our government and China's has changed over time.
Large parts of China are still wedded to Mao and the communist system. Some areas are freer but it varies by location.
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SSG (Join to see)
LTC Stephen F. - I'm surprised China allows Christianity to be taught to children in school. Is the school considered "extra-curricular" or does it count as a regular school?
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LTC Stephen F.
SSG (Join to see) - The province where the school is located is more open to western influences and may well have some older folk who remember the Christian missionaries who lived there prior to the end of WWII. Here is some information about the school which bills itself as an international school which is accredited.
"OVO INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL is the first and only international school in Huizhou. Our school has introduced an American education mode, including teaching materials of the main subjects. We have students from Grade 1-12, they are from all over the world. Upon successful completion of all required courses, students will be awarded an American diploma.
Our school currently is recruiting teachers, the basic requirements are listed as follows:
* at lease BA/ BS degree
* Native speaker ONLY
* Familiar with American Education system"
"OVO INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL is the first and only international school in Huizhou. Our school has introduced an American education mode, including teaching materials of the main subjects. We have students from Grade 1-12, they are from all over the world. Upon successful completion of all required courses, students will be awarded an American diploma.
Our school currently is recruiting teachers, the basic requirements are listed as follows:
* at lease BA/ BS degree
* Native speaker ONLY
* Familiar with American Education system"
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SSG (Join to see)
LTC Stephen F. - Thanks, that's interesting. I didn't see any mention of the Christian education online, however I imagine that it probably needs to be somewhat low key. I'm still also somewhat surprised that China allows that given their general dislike for religion in general and minority (from a Chinese perspective) religions in particular.
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