Taiwan’s ruling party on Saturday showed support for a Hong Kong bookseller who fled to the democratic island amid fears of Chinese persecution, with President Tsai Ing-wen offering congratulations as he opened a new shop in Taipei.
Olivia Chan reports.
A Hong Kong bookseller opened a new shop in Taiwan on Saturday (April 25), after fleeing to the democratic island amid fears of Chinese persecution.
Taiwanese crowded into his shop in Taipei as support as senior officials from the ruling party joined in.
President Tsai Ing-wen also offered her congratulations by sending flowers with a short message.
Lam Wing-kee sought refuge in Taiwan last year after he was detained by Chinese agents for eight months in 2015 while working at a bookshop in Hong Kong that sold books critical of the Chinese leadership.
His "Causeway Bay Books" became a symbol of resistance to perceived Chinese encroachments on Hong Kong’s liberties.
He made front-page headlines again earlier this week after a man threw red paint at him, just days before the reopening.
UPSOT - OF BITE HERE As authorities are still looking for the assailant, Lam said he was happy Taiwanese friends came over to the shop to show their support.
Taiwan has become a refuge for a small but growing number of pro-democracy protesters fleeing Chinese-ruled Hong Kong.
The democratic island has voiced its strong support for the protesters and repeatedly rejected Beijing’s proposals to rule the island with the “one country, two systems” model it uses for Hong Kong.