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A Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSARG) spokesman today (June 16) said:
We notice that Mr Lam Wing-kee has told the media today that after leaving Hong Kong on October 24 last year, he was detained while in Shenzhen. On June 14 this year, after Mr Lam had returned to Hong Kong, the Police took the initiative to meet him at the control point. At that time, Mr Lam requested the Police to cancel his missing person case and stated that he did not require any assistance from the HKSARG or the Police.
The government spokesman said that the HKSARG has all along been attaching great importance to the incident concerning a bookstore in Causeway Bay. The Police have already established a case for investigation and have also been making enquiries to and seeking assistance from the relevant Mainland authority through the existing mechanism.
In view of what Mr Lam told the media today, the Police are now proactively contacting Mr Lam himself to understand more and will take appropriate follow-up action.
The HKSARG has all along been dealing with matters relating to the HKSAR strictly in accordance with the principle of "one country, two systems" and the Basic Law. The Basic Law only authorises law enforcement agencies of Hong Kong to enforce laws in Hong Kong. Law enforcement agencies outside of Hong Kong, including law enforcement agencies of the Mainland and overseas, do not have the authority to enforce laws in Hong Kong. If law enforcement officers of non-Hong Kong jurisdictions take law enforcement actions in Hong Kong, this will contravene Hong Kong laws and is unacceptable.
The government spokesman said that the HKSARG all along attaches importance to the personal safety of every Hong Kong resident, and will resolutely safeguard the rights and freedoms of Hong Kong residents in accordance with law.
Ends/Thursday, June 16, 2016
Issued at HKT 23:55
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