Taipei: Lam Wing-kee, the former Hong Kong bookseller whose disappearance in 2015 drew international attention to Beijing’s crackdown on free expression, has died in Taiwan at the age of 70 after battling cancer.
According to Taiwan’s Central News Agency, Lam passed away on Thursday evening at MacKay Memorial Hospital in Taipei. The report stated that his cancer had returned last year, and he was hospitalized earlier this week before falling into a coma a day before his death.
Lam became internationally recognized after being detained by Chinese authorities in late 2015 while crossing from Hong Kong into mainland China. At the time, he was associated with Causeway Bay Books, a Hong Kong bookstore known for selling publications about Chinese political leaders and sensitive issues that were unavailable on the mainland.
His disappearance was part of a wider case involving five booksellers connected to the bookstore, all of whom mysteriously vanished under different circumstances. Their detention sparked widespread concern among international human rights organizations and raised questions about Beijing’s reach beyond mainland China.
Following his release, Lam publicly described his detention, saying he had been taken across mainland China, held under constant surveillance for several months, and later compelled to deliver a televised confession. His testimony contradicted official Chinese accounts and became one of the most high-profile challenges to Beijing’s narrative regarding the incident.
Fearing further legal action after political tensions escalated in Hong Kong, Lam relocated to Taiwan in 2019. The following year, he reopened Causeway Bay Books in Taipei, transforming it into a symbol of freedom of expression and a gathering place for supporters of democracy and human rights.
In June, Lam revealed that the bookstore had temporarily suspended operations because of his declining health, adding that he was uncertain when it would reopen.
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te expressed condolences following Lam’s death, praising his courage and unwavering commitment to defending freedom. In a public statement, Lai said Lam’s legacy would continue to inspire future generations and serve as a reminder of the importance of protecting democratic values.
Lam’s passing comes as Hong Kong authorities continue strengthening national security measures introduced after the large-scale pro-democracy protests of 2019. In recent months, police have carried out additional arrests related to alleged seditious publications and foreign political funding under the territory’s expanded national security legislation.
For many supporters of press freedom and civil liberties, Lam Wing-kee will be remembered as a courageous figure whose personal sacrifices highlighted the growing challenges facing free speech in Hong Kong and beyond.
