Book slammed for glorifying foreign invasion of China in early 1900s ‘snapped up by readers’ in Hong Kong
- Book by Beijing-born writer Liu Qikun says invasion led by eight foreign powers in 1900 helped avoid humanitarian crisis in China and was justified
- The title sold out at all seven Eslite stores in city, employees say, after pro-Beijing media accused book of twisting history
A book pro-Beijing media and lawmakers have attacked for saying it was right for foreign powers to take military action against China during the early 1900s has been snapped up by readers, according to employees of a retail bookstore chain in Hong Kong.
Although local pro-Beijing media reported the Chinese-language book had been taken off the shelves by the Taiwanese-owned Eslite bookstore, employees at the Causeway Bay branch told a Post reporter the book was sold out at six of its seven stores in Hong Kong. The remaining outlet sells children’s books.
However, while they were unsure if stock would be replenished because of the “current situation”, the book was still available through the store’s website.
The Post has approached Eslite and the government for comment.
The book’s publisher, Taiwan-based China Times Publishing, told the island’s semi-official Central News Agency it would “respect market rules” in Hong Kong.