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Zhou Xin

Emily Tsang

A source close to missing billionaire Xiao Jianhua told the South China Morning Post that the tycoon is currently in mainland China.
The source, who declined to be named because of the sensitivity of the matter, said Xiao could communicate only with his family.
“His family members can communicate with him. That’s not bad, at least we know he is safe and well.”
The latest information about Xiao contradicted an advertisement in his name that appeared on the front page of a local Chinese newspaper on Wednesday morning.

Refuting earlier media reports that said he had been arrested in Hong Kong, the full-page statement printed in Ming Pao denied that Xiao had been “captured” and taken back to the mainland. It claimed the tycoon was “currently receiving treatment overseas” and would “meet the press very soon after the treatment is finished”.
“I think the Chinese government is a civilised government and [respects] the rule of law – the public should not misunderstand!” it said.
The advertisement was part of a series of puzzling events concerning the whereabouts of Xiao, 46, a high-profile tycoon said to have close ties to powerful politicians in Beijing.
Overseas Chinese media earlier reported that mainland agents had taken the businessman from Hong Kong back to the mainland on Friday. Earlier this week, Xiao’s Tomorrow Group responded with two statements in his name via its ­WeChat account rejecting those claims.
Missing Chinese billionaire Xiao Jianhua ‘last seen at Hong Kong’s Four Seasons Hotel’ before entering mainland
The two statements – along with the rest of the group’s posts – were later removed from the account.
The Wednesday advertisement said Xiao had always loved his country and had never been involved in any situation that might damage the country’s interests or the government’s image, or supported any opposition organisation.
It added that as a Canadian citizen, Xiao enjoyed the consular protection of Canada, and as a Hong Kong permanent resident, he was covered by the city’s laws. The statement said Xiao held a “diplomatic passport” and enjoyed diplomatic protection, though it did not specify which country had issued the passport.
Hong Kong police have been looking into the tycoon’s disappearance.
A government source with knowledge of the investigation said Xiao was last seen at a luxury Hong Kong hotel last week.
Mainland tycoon has history of doing deals with big wheels
The source said the businessman left the Four Seasons Hotel on Friday morning accompanied by an unknown number of people.
Another source said Xiao left Hong Kong for Shenzhen at about 3pm on Friday.
This information, as well as a statement from Hong Kong police saying that Xiao had entered the mainland on Friday contradicted claims in the advertisement and in Tomorrow Group’s earlier statements that the tycoon was “overseas”.
Lawmaker James To Kun-sun of Democratic Party said the Hong Kong government had yet to come forward to clear doubts about the incident two days after it was reported by overseas media. He urged officials to clarify as soon as possible whether the government had any involvement in the incident, whether Xiao was a Hong Kong permanent resident, and whether he had been forced to leave the city under duress.

But lawmaker Starry Lee Wai-king, chairwoman of pro-Beijing party the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB), said that it was not fair to comment on the case at the moment as the person of interest had not come forward.
Speaking on Commercial Radio on Wednesday, Lee said Xiao’s case did not seem to involve cross-border law enforcement, but admitted that the notification mechanism between the mainland and Hong Kong on such events should be enhanced.
Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, chief executive contender and former security minister, said the case reflected the long-standing problem of the lack of agreements between Hong Kong and the mainland on fugitive transfer and reciprocal juridical assistance.
“The government has failed to solve these problems for a long time,” she said. “After I left the government, there was no follow-up on the issue.”
If I were the chief executive, I or my appointed official would approach the proper authorities on the mainland
Woo Kwok-hing, retired judge
Ip said she would push through these arrangements if she was elected chief executive.
Meanwhile another contender for the city’s top job, retired judge Woo Kwok-hing, cited Article 28 of the Basic Law, which states that no Hong Kong resident shall be subjected to arbitrary or unlawful arrest, detention and imprisonment.
Woo added that if elected, he would not allow mainland or foreign officials to enforce any law in the city and argued that a clear stance would be needed to “win back people’s confidence in ‘one country, two systems’”.
“If I were the chief executive, I or my appointed official would approach the proper authorities on the mainland to inquire as to what exactly happened and take appropriate action if abduction had occurred,” he said.
While he appreciated the concern shown by Hongkongers over the case, Woo added that the public should wait for more facts and details to surface before jumping to any conclusions.
A spokesman for chief executive aspirant John Tsang Chun-wah, meanwhile, said: “[Tsang] is not clear about the details of the case. But under the Basic Law, only Hong Kong officers can enforce the law in [the city].”
A spokesman for Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said she understood public concerns over the matter, adding that everything should be handled in accordance with the law.
The incident comes about a year after five Hong Kong booksellers disappeared, triggering fears of mainland agents acting beyond their jurisdiction.


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Chinese-Canadian tycoon Xiao Jianhua, who disappeared from Hong Kong hotel, to stand trial in mainland China

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Xiao Jianhua

Source confirms missing tycoon is in mainland China, not ‘receiving treatment overseas’

Latest information contradicts front-page newspaper ad in businessman Xiao Jianhua’s name

Lawmaker James To (right) called on local authorities to clarify what role, if any, they had in the incident. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

A advertisement appeared on the front page of a local Chinese newspaper signed under the name of mainland billionaire Xiao Jianhua claimed "he was currently receiving treatment in the overseas". The full page statement printed on Mingpao newspaper on Wednesday morning quoted Xiao said had not been “captured” and taken back to the mainland. SCMP Pictures (UNDATED HANDOUT)

Tycoon Xiao Jianhua was last seen at a luxury Hong Kong hotel on Friday. Photo: Handout

Mainland tycoon has history of doing deals with big wheels

Xiao Jianhua may have been abducted from Hong Kong by mainland security personnel. Photo: Handout

One year on: Hong Kong bookseller saga leaves too many questions unanswered

The bookstore in Causeway Bay at the centre of the saga remains locked. Photo: Sam Tsang

Civic Party stage a protest outside China Liaison Office to support bookseller Lam Wing-kee who has been detained in mainland China. 17JUN16 SCMP/ Felix Wong

A screen grab from CCTV showing one of the missing Hong Kong booksellers Gui Minhai claimed to turns himself in for hit-and-run 11 years ago, reported by Xinhua News. Note his shirt in BLACK. SCMP Pictures (UNDATED HANDOUT)

Missing Chinese billionaire Xiao Jianhua ‘last seen at Hong Kong’s Four Seasons Hotel’ before entering mainland

Hong Kong police are examining hotel surveillance footage and have asked mainland counterparts for help to determine if he is under arrest, sources say

Xiao Jianhua, founder of Beijing-based Tomorrow Group, issued two statements in response to concern from the public. Photo: Handout

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Latest information contradicts front-page newspaper ad in businessman Xiao Jianhua’s name


Exclusive | Source confirms missing tycoon is in mainland China, not ‘receiving treatment overseas’

Latest information contradicts front-page newspaper ad in businessman Xiao Jianhua’s name