Wang Zhenmin said the Liaison Office was concerned about Lee Bo's disappearance. Photo: RTHK
The new legal affairs chief at Beijing's Liaison Office in Hong Kong, Wang Zhenmin, on Friday downplayed recent commentaries made by the Global Times on the controversial disappearance of Lee Bo,
Lee and four others linked to a Casuseway Bay bookstore, which sold titles critical of mainland leaders, have disappeared over the last few months. Lee disappeared from Hong Kong, triggering speculation that he was illegally taken away by mainland authorities.
After Lee disappeared, the state-backed tabloid said in an editorial that "powerful agencies" have the ability to evade laws to get people to cooperate with their probe.
Wang said any media have their right to comment. But he said their commentaries – and even remarks made by state leaders – would not be legally binding.
While Lee’s whereabouts is still a mystery, Wang said himself and the Liaison Office were also concerned over the disappearance. He also stressed both the Central and SAR governments will defend and follow the One Country, Two Systems principle in accordance to the Basic Law.
Wang took over the role at the Liaison Office recently, after heading Tsinghua University's law school.
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1236070-20160115.htm
