China confirms Hong Kong bookseller investigation

This was the first indication by mainland Chinese authorities as to the fate of this trio since they were reported missing last November, without giving any other detail of their location or condition other than that they are in China.

A full range of books on Chinese politics-ranging from serious histories to sensational gossip-has always been available in Hong Kong.

Interest rate vibration and carryover effect also contributed to the discrepancy, Shen said.

The three men “were suspected to be involved in a case relating to a person surnamed Gui, and were involved in illegal activities on the Mainland”, the Hong Kong police statement said, referring to Gui Minhai, one of the two other booksellers already known to be held in China.

Meanwhile, a letter by Lee Bo addressed to Hong Kong police stated that he did not need to meet with them at the moment.

However, Thai police told CNN they have no record of him leaving the country and a police official, speaking to CNN on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the case, says Thai authorities are now working with Swedish officials to investigate Gui’s possible kidnapping.

“It is absurd for them to portray a case in which the three booksellers were trying to cover up Gui’s alleged crime of causing a death while drunk driving 12 years ago”, To said.

Washington called on Beijing Monday to explain the disappearances, with a State Department spokesman saying the incidents “raise serious questions about China’s commitment to Hong Kong’s autonomy”. “He [Lee] would contact Police should he need to meet with Police”, the statement said, adding that the handwriting in the letter had been authenticated by Lee’s wife.

The five co-owners and staff member of Causeway Bay Books and its parent company Mighty Current have been missing in recent months.

Over the past few years, the insurance sector has become one of the fastest developing industries in Hong Kong.

While Chinese police have confirmed that they are holding four of the five missing men, the status of another, Lee Bo, remains unclear.

In its latest move to curb outflows, China was putting a limit on purchases of insurance products in Hong Kong using the country’s ubiquitous UnionPay credit and debit cards, two sources told Reuters on Wednesday.