Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying has said that the government will write to the central government expressing concerns on the booksellers case, and it will review the communication protocol with the mainland.
“I chaired a meeting this morning and made three decisions. One is to write to the central authorities to express our concern over this case. The second is to review the notifications mechanism between Hong Kong and the mainland – I believe there is room for review and possibly improvement in the notifications system. Third, if necessary i shall dispatch my government colleagues to follow up on these points,” he told reporters.
Leung said that it was unacceptable for law enforcement agencies from outside the city to enforce law in Hong Kong.
He added that the police have tried to contact Lam after his revelations and they are waiting for his reply. They will provide appropriate assistance to protect his safety.
He said that Hong Kong people needed to follow mainland laws when on the mainland and that the communication mechanism will be triggered if a Hong Kong person broke the law in China.
“We hope the mechanism can let the government and the families of the people involved know their whereabouts as soon as possible, and other details,” he said, admitting there was room for improvement, ten years after it was implemented.
Secretary for Security Lai Tung-kwok said the Hong Kong police will act according to the Hong Kong laws in any investigations.
“The police have the necessary expertise to handle all these issues,” he said.
Using the case of Lee Bo as an example, Lai said the police issued a press release after they contacted the Guangdong police confirming Lee was on the mainland.
Having returned from a nine-day holiday, Leung was speaking for the first time on Lam’s revelations.
Lam returned to Hong Kong last Tuesday after disappearing from Shenzhen last October. He held a press conference saying that he was kidnapped, made to wear handcuffs and a blindfold and was taken to Ningbo by a “central special unit”. He was banned from outside communication, held in solitary confinement and says his TV “confession” was scripted and orchestrated. Lam stood accused of “illegal” business operations but has denied he did anything illegal. Thousands protested in support of Lam on Saturday.
