Beijing slams London for ‘groundless accusations’ in HK bookseller case

HONG KONG: Beijing blasted Britain for suggesting that a Hong Kong bookseller believed detained by China was “invo­­lun­tarily removed to the mainland”, accusing the former colonial power of interfering in Chinese domestic affairs.

Britain had earlier released a report describing the disappearance of Lee Bo, who holds a British passport and published books critical of Chinese politics, as a “serious breach” of an agreement signed with Beijing before Hong Kong was handed back to China in 1997. They were Britain’s strongest comments yet on a case that has rocked Hong Kong, adding to growing fears that freedoms are being eroded in the semi-autonomous city.