Hong Kong people learn that Basic Law freedoms stop at the border
Sonny Lo says the apparent abductions of five booksellers show that the spreading of political rumours on the mainland will not be tolerated
With the return of Lee Po to Hong Kong and his remarks to the media, it is crystal clear that the freedom of publication conferred upon the people of Hong Kong, according to Article 27 of the Basic Law, has its limits.
Several books carried assertions and predictions that turned out to be almost accurate
First, it is clear that books on Chinese politics or leaders cannot be taken to the mainland by either mainland tourists or Hong Kong people. What was explosive about the content of the books connected with Lee and his associates was the mixture of rumours and half-truths. Lee himself admitted that the books created unfounded rumours that had a detrimental impact on mainland society. From China’s perspective, any book spreading political rumours on the mainland could be regarded as potentially “subversive”.
Second, it is worth noting that several books carried assertions and predictions that turned out to be almost accurate. Months prior to the official announcement of the reforms of the People’s Liberation Army, a book already predicted that the PLA would undergo reform and that it would be divided into four regions. As it turned out, PLA reforms were indeed on the cards, though it entailed five regions instead of four. If such information was deliberately leaked, it would be seen as a national security issue from Beijing’s perspective.
