Dissident Hong Kong bookseller Lam Wing-kee dies aged 70

Lam Wing-kee, a Hong Kong bookseller known for selling material critical of Beijing, has died at the age of 70 after battling lung cancer. Lam was arrested in mainland China in 2015 and held for over 400 days, along with other bookshop staff, as part of a crackdown on publications deemed critical of Chinese leaders. He later stated that a confession broadcast on Chinese television was staged. His case heightened concerns about China's influence on Hong Kong's freedoms, contributing to the 2019 mass protests. After his release, Lam reopened Causeway Bay Books in Taiwan, creating a space for Hong Kong friends to gather and express themselves. He believed in standing by one's values and not harming others.

Hong Kong bookseller Lam Wing-kee, who previously detailed his abduction and detention by mainland Chinese authorities in 2015, has died at the age of 70. Lam had been battling lung cancer for several years. He relocated to Taiwan in 2019. According to Taiwanese media, he was hospitalized in Taipei on Tuesday, his condition deteriorated, and he passed away on Thursday evening. Last year, Lam revealed that his lung adenocarcinoma had recurred and progressed to stage four.