A Hong Kong publisher, citing copyright problems, has aborted publication of a controversial diary by former premier Li Peng - just three days before it was to have hit bookstores.
A statement posted on the website of New Century Press yesterday says: 'According to copyright information provided by relevant institutions and Hong Kong copyright laws, we have to cancel the publication of the Tiananmen Diary of Li Peng, which is originally scheduled for June 22, due to copyright reasons.'
Bao Pu , founder of New Century Press, yesterday said he was approached by 'relevant institutions' which provided him with copyright information.
'Relevant institutions provided information related to the copyright [of Li's diaries] before the publication of the book. According to Hong Kong's copyright laws, I have to give up my original publication plan,' Bao said. He declined to name the institutions.
Li's book, in the form of a series of selected diary entries penned by the former premier from April 15 to June 24, 1989, details how the inner circle of the Communist Party leadership remained sharply divided on how to handle the protests, and the confrontation between then party secretary Zhao Ziyang and Li.
Previous reports said Li sent the manuscript to the Politburo in 2004 but its release was blocked.
The manuscript was obtained by the media this month and photocopies of it in simplified Chinese characters were posted on the internet - where they instantly became the hottest topic in mainland cyberspace.
