One of five missing Hong Kong booksellers feared detained by Chinese authorities is a British citizen, the UK's foreign office confirmed Tuesday, saying it was "deeply concerned" over the disappearances.
The case has sparked fury from lawmakers and activists in semi-autonomous Hong Kong, adding to growing unease that freedoms in the city are being eroded.
The statement from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office did not specify which of the missing men is British, but it is believed to be Lee Bo, 65, the latest bookseller to go missing.
Lee disappeared last week and was last seen in Hong Kong.
The five missing men all work for Hong Kong-based publishing house Mighty Current, known for books critical of China.
"We are deeply concerned by reports about the disappearance and detention of individuals associated with the Causeway Bay Books bookstore in Hong Kong," the statement said, referring to the firm's affiliated shop.
"We can confirm that one of the individuals is a British citizen and we have urgently requested the Hong Kong and mainland authorities' assistance in ascertaining this individual's welfare and whereabouts."
The FCO urged the Hong Kong government to "honour its commitment" to press freedom.
It added that it hoped Chinese authorities would "continue to make every effort to ensure that the environment in which the media and publishers operate in the Hong Kong... supports full and frank reporting".
The statement was released as British foreign secretary Philip Hammond is in Beijing on a two-day official visit.
- Wife 'intimidated' -
Hong Kong was handed back to Beijing by Britain in 1997 and enjoys freedoms unseen on the mainland, and Chinese law enforcers have no right to operate in the city.
Police confirmed Tuesday Lee's wife had retracted a report on her husband's disappearance, a move Amnesty said smacked of "intimidation".
The rights group said it was common for Chinese authorities to put pressure on those close to detainees.
"One wonders whether the same sort of intimidation is being used against associates and friends (of the publishers)," said Amnesty International's China researcher William Nee.
Rights groups also questioned the validity of a letter purportedly faxed to a colleague by Lee on Monday, saying he was well and had reached the mainland using his own means on an "urgent matter".
He said he was "assisting an investigation" in the letter, published by Taiwan's Central News Agency, but did not elaborate.
Lee's wife has previously said he called her from a number in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen after he went missing.
Nee said the letter "defies belief" as Hong Kong has stringent border-crossing controls. Human Rights Watch questioned how Lee could have crossed the border with no trace.
Police are also probing the disappearances of three other missing employees who were Hong Kong residents.
One is a Swedish national, and embassies in Beijing and Bangkok are investigating his case.
In a regular briefing Tuesday, China's foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said: "I am not aware of the situation," when asked about the missing booksellers.
Hong Kong's leader Leung Chun-ying said Monday it would be "unacceptable" if mainland law enforcers were operating in Hong Kong.
One of five missing Hong Kong booksellers feared detained by Chinese authorities is a British citizen, the UK’s foreign office confirmed Tuesday, saying it was “deeply concerned” over the disappearances.
The case has sparked fury from lawmakers and activists in semi-autonomous Hong Kong, adding to growing unease that freedoms in the city are being eroded.
The statement from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office did not specify which of the missing men is British, but it is believed to be Lee Bo, 65, the latest bookseller to go missing.
Lee disappeared last week and was last seen in Hong Kong.
The five missing men all work for Hong Kong-based publishing house Mighty Current, known for books critical of China.
“We are deeply concerned by reports about the disappearance and detention of individuals associated with the Causeway Bay Books bookstore in Hong Kong,” the statement said, referring to the firm’s affiliated shop.
“We can confirm that one of the individuals is a British citizen and we have urgently requested the Hong Kong and mainland authorities’ assistance in ascertaining this individual’s welfare and whereabouts.”
The FCO urged the Hong Kong government to “honour its commitment” to press freedom.
It added that it hoped Chinese authorities would “continue to make every effort to ensure that the environment in which the media and publishers operate in the Hong Kong… supports full and frank reporting”.
The statement was released as British foreign secretary Philip Hammond is in Beijing on a two-day official visit.
– Wife ‘intimidated’ –
Hong Kong was handed back to Beijing by Britain in 1997 and enjoys freedoms unseen on the mainland, and Chinese law enforcers have no right to operate in the city.
Police confirmed Tuesday Lee’s wife had retracted a report on her husband’s disappearance, a move Amnesty said smacked of “intimidation”.
The rights group said it was common for Chinese authorities to put pressure on those close to detainees.
“One wonders whether the same sort of intimidation is being used against associates and friends (of the publishers),” said Amnesty International’s China researcher William Nee.
Rights groups also questioned the validity of a letter purportedly faxed to a colleague by Lee on Monday, saying he was well and had reached the mainland using his own means on an “urgent matter”.
He said he was “assisting an investigation” in the letter, published by Taiwan’s Central News Agency, but did not elaborate.
Lee’s wife has previously said he called her from a number in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen after he went missing.
Nee said the letter “defies belief” as Hong Kong has stringent border-crossing controls. Human Rights Watch questioned how Lee could have crossed the border with no trace.
Police are also probing the disappearances of three other missing employees who were Hong Kong residents.
One is a Swedish national, and embassies in Beijing and Bangkok are investigating his case.
In a regular briefing Tuesday, China’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said: “I am not aware of the situation,” when asked about the missing booksellers.
Hong Kong’s leader Leung Chun-ying said Monday it would be “unacceptable” if mainland law enforcers were operating in Hong Kong.
