Banned history book's HK release to go ahead despite warnings
The author of a history book banned on the mainland for criticising traditional Chinese culture has decided to defy the authorities' orders not to release the work in Hong Kong.
Xiao Jiansheng, 54, said Chinese History Revisited would go on sale on Monday despite his being told by mainland authorities earlier this week to scrap the plan.
Xiao said his Hong Kong publisher told him it was 'too late to stop'.
Xiao, a veteran journalist with the Hunan Daily, the province's official newspaper, said he had tendered his resignation to the newspaper.
He spent the past 20 years researching and writing the 450-page book, which questions traditional values such as obedience to authorities and the centralisation of power.
'I don't think I have done anything wrong, I will defend my civil rights. Our freedom of speech and press is guaranteed in the constitution,' he said. 'But I decided to resign so my colleagues won't be affected.'
