A demonstrator burns a flag of the Communist Party of China outside Beijing's Liaison Office in Hong Kong during a protest over the disappearance of the five booksellers. File photo: Reuters
A commentary on the state-backed tabloid, Global Times, said on Monday that the Hong Kong media should not politicise the disappearance of the five Causeway Bay booksellers.
The commentary came hours after one of the five, Gui Minhai, appeared in an interview with China Central Television and said he had surrendered himself after escaping from a suspended prison term years ago. The man had gone missing while in Thailand in October.
The Global Times suggested the fact that an individual surrendering himself or cooperating with an investigation on the mainland has been turned into a storm, manifested a misinterpretation of the "One Country, Two Systems" principle.
It accused "some people from the opposition camp" in Hong Kong of advocating the idea that the principle gives Hong Kong people "the right to oppose the mainland and the central government".
The newspaper also said Hong Kong's media should avoid encouraging the city's people from being too "Hong Kong-centric".
It added that reports by state media have "revealed the truth" surrounding Gui, and he should be allowed to "face the law" himself.
Gui appeared on CCTV on Sunday night, saying he had turned himself in after feeling guilty for escaping from a suspended prison term. The Xinhua news agency also reported that Gui was involved in other offences, but did not elaborate.
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1236567-20160118.htm
