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UK says HK bookseller 'abduction breaches China treaty' UK says HK bookseller 'abduction breaches China treaty'
(about 2 hours later)
The UK has called the apparent abduction of a Hong Kong bookseller a "serious breach" of the treaty on the city's return to China, in its strongest comments on the matter. The UK has said a British bookseller who has disappeared in Hong Kong was likely "involuntarily removed" to China, calling it a "serious breach" of the handover treaty.
It has said Lee Bo, a British citizen, was "involuntarily removed... without any due process" under Hong Kong law. The statement from Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond is the UK's strongest comment so far on the case of Lee Bo.
Lee is among five booksellers who have disappeared in recent months. It is also the first time the UK has noted a serious breach of the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration.
In the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration, China promised to safeguard Hong Kong's freedoms. Mr Lee is one of five booksellers or publishers missing from Hong Kong.
Read more: Hong Kong's missing booksellers and 'banned' Xi Jinping bookRead more: Hong Kong's missing booksellers and 'banned' Xi Jinping book
The UK had earlier expressed concern about reports on the disappearance of Mr Lee and the other booksellers associated with Mighty Current, a publishing house specialising in books critical of senior Chinese leaders, and Causeway Bay Books which sells the titles. All five are associated with publishing house Mighty Current, a publishing house specialising in books critical of senior Chinese leaders, and Causeway Bay Books which sells the titles.
But in his twice-yearly report on Hong Kong affairs, Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said: "The full facts of the case remain unclear, but our current information indicates that Mr Lee was involuntarily removed to the mainland without any due process under Hong Kong [Special Administrative Region] law." Their supporters believe China has detained them because of this.
A spokeswoman for the British Foreign Office in Hong Kong has confirmed to the BBC that it is the first time a "serious breach" of the Sino-British Joint Declaration has been noted China has confirmed it is investigating three of the men for "illegal activities".
A fourth suspect, Swedish citizen Gui Minhai, has appeared on Chinese state TV saying he voluntarily handed himself over to the authorities over a historic drink-driving fatality.
First use of 'serious breach'
Lee Bo, also known as Paul Lee, who holds a British passport, disappeared from Hong Kong in December.
Letters sent to his family, apparently by him, have said he went to China voluntarily to attend to certain matters, but did not elaborate.
The UK had earlier expressed concern, but in his twice-yearly report on Hong Kong affairs, Mr Hammond said that while the full facts of the case were still not clear, "our current information indicates that Mr Lee was involuntarily removed to the mainland without any due process".
"This constitutes a serious breach of the Sino-British Joint Declaration on Hong Kong and undermines the principle of 'One Country, Two Systems' which assures Hong Kong residents of the protection of the Hong Kong legal system.
Under Hong Kong law, Chinese police do not have jurisdiction in the territory.
It is the first time the UK has accused China of a "serious breach" of the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration, the document in which China promised to safeguard Hong Kong's freedoms after the territory was handed back by Britain.
A Foreign Office spokeswoman said there was no legal provision to enforce a breach, but that the UK would continue to raise Mr Lee's case with China.
Mr Hammond has previously said any charges against Mr Lee should be dealt with in Hong Kong, not mainland China.
The report, which also assessed Hong Kong's media, academic and legal progress, also said some of the city's guaranteed rights and freedoms "have come under unprecedented pressure" and urged authorities in Hong Kong and Beijing to take steps in maintaining confidence in the system.
Mighty Current publishing house disappearancesMighty Current publishing house disappearances
1. Lui Bo, General Manager, goes missing in Shenzhen, 15 October1. Lui Bo, General Manager, goes missing in Shenzhen, 15 October
2. Cheung Jiping, business manager, 32, goes missing in Dongguan, 15 October2. Cheung Jiping, business manager, 32, goes missing in Dongguan, 15 October
3. Gui Minhai, co-owner, 51, goes missing in Thailand, 17 October3. Gui Minhai, co-owner, 51, goes missing in Thailand, 17 October
4. Lam Wingkei, manager, 60, last seen in Hong Kong, 23 October4. Lam Wingkei, manager, 60, last seen in Hong Kong, 23 October
5. Lee Bo, shareholder, 65, goes missing in Hong Kong, 30 December5. Lee Bo, shareholder, 65, goes missing in Hong Kong, 30 December
He added that the case not only breached the joint declaration but also "undermined" the "one country, two systems" principle which protects residents in the Hong Kong legal system.
Mr Hammond has previously said that any charges against Mr Lee should be dealt with in Hong Kong, not mainland China.
The report, which also assessed Hong Kong's media, academic and legal progress, also said some of the city's guaranteed rights and freedoms "have come under unprecedented pressure" and urged authorities in Hong Kong and Beijing to take steps in maintaining confidence in the system.
The disappearance of the booksellers have been a cause of major concern in Hong Kong where many believe they were taken to the mainland to face punishment.
Mr Lee later allegedly sent a letter to his family saying he had gone to the mainland voluntarily to attend to certain matters, but did not elaborate.
Another missing bookseller, Gui Minhai, appeared on Chinese state television saying he had given himself up to authorities for an old drink-driving conviction.