Hong Kong Bookseller Says He Wasn't Kidnapped After All, and Wants to Give Up His British Citizenship

It's the mysterious tale which just keeps on giving. In the latest development in the case of the "missing" Hong Kong booksellers, one of the five men has announced he was not kidnapped by Chinese authorities, as many suspect, but had sneaked into China illegally and that he would renounce his British citizenship.

It followed the appearance of the other four booksellers — including Gui Minhai, a Swedish national — on Chinese television on Sunday stating they had been detained for "illegal book trading" in mainland China. Gui, who disappeared from Thailand in October, had previously appeared on television tearfully "confessing" to a drink driving offense more than a decade ago.

Lee Bo, a dual British and Hong Kong citizen, and four associates — all linked to a publisher which sells gossipy titles about the private lives and political struggles of China's leadership — went missing over the past six months, sparking fears that Chinese authorities had abducted some of the men and taken them back to China. The men have since been confirmed to be in China, being detained. At least one faces charges for selling and distributing books that are banned in China.

Related: China Confirms It Has the Last Three Missing Booksellers

In a 20-minute interview with China's Phoenix Television late on Monday, Lee gave the first detailed account of his disappearance from Hong Kong in December, claiming he had returned to China voluntarily.

"I have always felt that I'm a Hong Kong citizen, a Chinese citizen, and because people have used my British nationality to sensationalize and make the situation more complicated, that's why I'm deciding to give up my British nationality," he said, appearing calm.

"Why have I acted so mysteriously? It's because I've had to assist with a mainland Chinese investigation and it required testifying against some people."

Since he was afraid of reprisals from those he was testifying against, he said, "I used an illegal means to sneak there and I didn't use my (Chinese) home return permit."

Lee didn't give details on how he'd crossed the border into China, or who helped him or when he might return.

"This case is quite complicated… so I need to be questioned for longer. I am very safe and free in China. My relations with law enforcement officers are very good. They treat me very well."

Related: The Missing Hong Kong Bookseller's Family Isn't Buying His Televised Confession

A representative of the British consulate in Hong Kong said on Monday that Britain had not been granted consular access to Lee despite requests.

Some politicians were sceptical and said Lee may have been pressured to try to erase perceptions of Chinese authorities carrying out illegal cross-border enforcement operations.

Meanwhile four of the men, Gui Minhai, Lui Por, Cheung Chi-ping and Lam Wing-kee, gave details of their alleged offenses to Phoenix Television, which first aired the interviews on Sunday night.

Gui, owner of Mighty Current Publishing Company which owns Causeway Bay Books, was singled by the others as the mastermind.

"I have deeply reflected on what I have done and very much regret the illegal book trading I have carried out with Gui Minhai," said Lui Por in the television report.

"The illegal activities at Mighty Current and Causeway Bay Books were directed by Gui Minhai. I am willing to accept the punishments that the law brings me. I truly repent," Cheung Chi-ping said.

In a four-minute report that involved exclusive interviews with the four, they confessed to selling "unauthorized" books in China via an online platform and evading customs inspections to deliver some 4,000 books to 380 customers since October 2014.

Related: China Hits Back at UN Criticism of Its Human Rights Record

Gui said he had altered and obscured the covers of the Hong Kong-printed books with nylon bags to "evade" customs security checks. The group had also opened a bank account in China to make payments.

"We discussed several times how we could avoid inspection by Chinese officials, such as changing the book covers and using dark nylon bags to carry books so that we could get away with X-ray checks at security checks," Gui said.

Gui had previously confessed on Chinese state television to a fatal drink-driving incident over a decade ago, but questions were raised after viewers found disparity in the state media report between Gui's birth years on his drivers' license and his Swedish passport. Phoenix TV's report claimed Gui had applied for his license using fake information including his date of birth and later fabricated Swedish documents to back up his "lies."

The booksellers' disappearances have provoked concern that China is using shadowy tactics to erode the "one country, two systems" formula under which Hong Kong has been governed since its return to China from British rule in 1997. There is also international concern that China is cracking down on freedom of expression in Hong Kong.

Related: Hong Kong Bookstores Scrap Banned Books After Bookseller Disappearances

China's Foreign Ministry, however, has said its law enforcement officials would never do anything illegal, especially not overseas, and called on foreign governments not to interfere in Hong Kong affairs.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei acknowledged the television reports in a daily briefing, saying the men had "already admitted to their actions", without elaborating.

"As I just pointed out, the people in question have already admitted their crimes while being interviewed on television. In terms of the specifics of the development of the case I don't have anything new to add," Hong said.

The Phoenix television report said Lam, Lui and Cheung might be allowed to return to Hong Kong this week, citing unspecified sources. Gui, however, was expected to remain in detention.

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