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China preparing to charge Hong Kong bookseller Lee Bo with blackmail – report China preparing to charge Hong Kong bookseller Lee Bo with blackmail – report
(7 months later)
China may be about to charge Hong Kong bookseller Lee Bo with “blackmail”, even as it insisted that he was in the country voluntarily in order to help with a criminal investigation.China may be about to charge Hong Kong bookseller Lee Bo with “blackmail”, even as it insisted that he was in the country voluntarily in order to help with a criminal investigation.
A report citing Chinese sources in the US-based Bowen Press alleged Lee, a British citizen, had engaged in blackmailing some of the subjects of the books released by his printing house, Mighty Current.A report citing Chinese sources in the US-based Bowen Press alleged Lee, a British citizen, had engaged in blackmailing some of the subjects of the books released by his printing house, Mighty Current.
Related: Britain accuses China of serious breach of treaty over 'removed' Hong Kong booksellers
According to the anonymous sources cited in the report, Lee had allegedly threatened some Chinese celebrities with damaging accounts of their personal lives unless they paid an unspecified fee. The charge carries a sentence of three to 10 years’ jail under Chinese law.According to the anonymous sources cited in the report, Lee had allegedly threatened some Chinese celebrities with damaging accounts of their personal lives unless they paid an unspecified fee. The charge carries a sentence of three to 10 years’ jail under Chinese law.
Hong Kong’s chief executive, Leung Chung-ying, told the Hong Kong Economic Journal that he was “unable to verify the report, nor did he know if Lee was being charged with any other crimes.”Hong Kong’s chief executive, Leung Chung-ying, told the Hong Kong Economic Journal that he was “unable to verify the report, nor did he know if Lee was being charged with any other crimes.”
Lee was last seen in Hong Kong on 30 December, when witnesses reported he was taken to a van by unidentified men. He resurfaced on the mainland in Guangdong province a few weeks later without his travel documents, and the Hong Kong border authorities have no record of him crossing the border.Lee was last seen in Hong Kong on 30 December, when witnesses reported he was taken to a van by unidentified men. He resurfaced on the mainland in Guangdong province a few weeks later without his travel documents, and the Hong Kong border authorities have no record of him crossing the border.
Lee co-managed Mighty Current with Gui Minhai, a Swedish national who disappeared from his holiday home in Thailand and was later seen in a tearful televised confession on Chinese state TV.Lee co-managed Mighty Current with Gui Minhai, a Swedish national who disappeared from his holiday home in Thailand and was later seen in a tearful televised confession on Chinese state TV.
Three more men who worked for Mighty Current and its bookshop, Causeway Books did not return from a trip to Shenzhen last October. Recently, the Guangdong authorities confirmed that the three were in custody and were being investigated for “illegal activities” on the mainland, but failed to provide any details.Three more men who worked for Mighty Current and its bookshop, Causeway Books did not return from a trip to Shenzhen last October. Recently, the Guangdong authorities confirmed that the three were in custody and were being investigated for “illegal activities” on the mainland, but failed to provide any details.
The case of the five missing booksellers, which has led to deep unease in Hong Kong over the reach of Chinese authorities, has also caused diplomatic tensions with Britain and Sweden, who have repeatedly expressed concern over China’s apparent abduction of the men from inside Hong Kong.The case of the five missing booksellers, which has led to deep unease in Hong Kong over the reach of Chinese authorities, has also caused diplomatic tensions with Britain and Sweden, who have repeatedly expressed concern over China’s apparent abduction of the men from inside Hong Kong.
Chinese mainland authorities have refused to clarify how the men entered China, and also refused to allow consular contact or independent legal counsel to the two foreign nationals involved, in breach of international and Chinese law.Chinese mainland authorities have refused to clarify how the men entered China, and also refused to allow consular contact or independent legal counsel to the two foreign nationals involved, in breach of international and Chinese law.
The British foreign secretary, Philip Hammond, last week accused China of committing a “serious breach” of the Sino-British Joint Declaration, the international treaty under which Hong Kong was returned to Chinese sovereignty in 1997, with the “involuntary removal” of Lee from Hong Kong. China has angrily rejected the accusation, telling Britain to “stop interfering” in China’s internal affairs and to “mind its words”.The British foreign secretary, Philip Hammond, last week accused China of committing a “serious breach” of the Sino-British Joint Declaration, the international treaty under which Hong Kong was returned to Chinese sovereignty in 1997, with the “involuntary removal” of Lee from Hong Kong. China has angrily rejected the accusation, telling Britain to “stop interfering” in China’s internal affairs and to “mind its words”.
On Tuesday, Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, the UN high commissioner on human rights, criticised China for its detention of hundreds of lawyers and legal activists and the disappearance of the five Hong Kong booksellers.On Tuesday, Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, the UN high commissioner on human rights, criticised China for its detention of hundreds of lawyers and legal activists and the disappearance of the five Hong Kong booksellers.
China’s mission in Geneva has replied through a statement saying that the lawyers had all committed “crimes”, and that “Lee repeatedly clarified that he voluntarily went back to the mainland for assisting in the investigation and is safe and sound”. The statement adds that “Lee hopes that the general public respect his personal choice and privacy and do not hype up attention on the case”.China’s mission in Geneva has replied through a statement saying that the lawyers had all committed “crimes”, and that “Lee repeatedly clarified that he voluntarily went back to the mainland for assisting in the investigation and is safe and sound”. The statement adds that “Lee hopes that the general public respect his personal choice and privacy and do not hype up attention on the case”.