Britain says missing Hong Kong bookseller 'involuntarily removed' to China

Members from the pro-democracy Civic Party carry a portrait of Lee Bo (L) and Gui Minhai before they protest outside Chinese Liaison Office in Hong Kong, China January 19, 2016. REUTERS/Bobby Yip

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Britain said on Friday a missing Hong Kong seller of gossipy books on China's leaders had likely been "involuntarily removed" to China from Hong Kong, constituting a "serious breach" of a longstanding bilateral treaty between the U.K. and China.

China's Foreign Ministry condemned the British report as "gesticulation", although it made no direct mention of the missing bookseller.