Serious Concern at IPA, PEN International Over Safety of Chinese Publishers

The International Publishers Association and PEN International have expressed alarm at reports that four people associated with a publisher and bookstore in Hong Kong famous for producing and stocking books critical of the Chinese authorities have gone missing. 

Gui Haiming, the Swedish owner of Sage Communications, along with general manager Lu Bo, store manager Lin Rongji, and staff member Zhang Zhiping have all been reported missing. Fears are growing that they may have been detained by the Chinese authorities.
 
"We are seriously concerned for these people's safety," said IPA President, Richard Charkin. "If they have indeed been arrested, then this is another example of the Chinese Government's campaign to try to silence dissent in Hong Kong. The IPA calls on the Chinese Government to immediately declare whether these four people are indeed being detained and if so, on what charges. In any event, we ask the Chinese Government to do everything in its power to assist in locating the publishers and allowing for their safe return."

The International Publishers Association is the international federation of national, regional, and specialized publishers associations, representing all aspects of global book publishing. PEN International was founded in 1921 to promote literature, as it has centers in over 100 countries across the globe.