Causeway Bay Books remains closed despite claim by Lee Po’s wife: four booksellers still missing, presumed detained
The store specialising in books banned on the mainland was due to open for business again today, according to co-owner’s wife
The doors of Causeway Bay Books, which was expected to reopen on Monday morning, remained firmly shut as lunchtime arrived. The whereabouts of its owner, publisher Lee Po, remained unknown.
Reporters waited at the bookstore’s entrance, above street level in Causeway Bay, from 8:30am, but there was no sign of it reopening before noon.
One mainlander with a strong Beijing accent approached the shop, hoping to check out the bookstore which was packed with journalists. But he left immediately after finding out it was closed.
Woo Chih-wai, who said he had once volunteered in the bookstore for two months, left after finding the shop closed.
Mandarin-speaking Woo said Lee’s wife had told him last week that the bookstore would reopen today but had called him again yesterday asking him not to go.
“I just hope to get back my personal belongings here,” said Woo, adding he was a long-time friend of Lam Wing-kei, one of the five missing booksellers.
Meanwhile, three mainland tourists left in dismay after finding out the bookstore they heard about on the internet was closed. The trio, who apparently had not heard of the saga, was surprised to learn that the five booksellers had disappeared.