Update | CY Leung on Hong Kong’s missing booksellers: mainland China law enforcement actions ‘unacceptable’
The city’s top official expresses concern as mysterious disappearance of five local booksellers sparks fears among local residents
Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying said earlier today that it was unacceptable and unconstitutional for mainland agencies to take law enforcement action in Hong Kong.
Leung was responding to the mysterious disappearance of Lee Bo, a shareholder of Causeway Bay Books, and four associates involved in publications critical of the mainland.
Leung said he and his government were highly concerned about case and would follow up on it comprehensively.
READ MORE: My Take: Mystery of Hong Kong bookseller Lee Bo’s disappearance must be solved quickly
There is speculation that four of the five had been separately taken out of Hong Kong by mainland law enforcement personnel.
Leung said there was no indication that was the case. He also said that under the Basic Law and the “one country, two systems” arrangement, only law enforcement agencies in Hong Kong have the authority to enforce laws and take related action in the city.
“No other law enforcement agencies, outside of Hong Kong, has such authority,” he said.
“It would be unacceptable if mainland law enforcement agents enforce laws in Hong Kong because this violates the Basic Law,” he added.