Hong Kong bookseller interrogated during China detention

A Hong Kong bookseller known for selling titles critical of Beijing told today how he was blindfolded, kept in a cell and interrogated by Chinese authorities after going missing eight months ago.
Lam Wing-kee is one of five booksellers who published salacious titles about leading Chinese politicians and disappeared at the end of last year in a case that heightened fears Beijing was tightening its grip on Hong Kong.
He said that although he was not physically harmed, he had suffered mentally in detention and was unable to contact a lawyer or his family. He was kept in confinement, unable to walk outside and repeatedly interrogated.

The booksellers' case has sparked international condemnation.
Lam is the only bookseller to have spoken openly and said the case had "violated the rights of Hong Kong people".
He described how a confession he gave to Chinese state television about trading banned books was forced.

"I acted in front of the camera, I needed to. There was a director. I had to recite the script," he said.
"I was in fear. I felt helpless. I didn't know what they would do to me."
He was supposed to return to the mainland Thursday after being released to Hong Kong on bail Tuesday, he told reporters.

However, he decided not to go back and instead to speak out about his case after learning of the support the booksellers had received from the Hong Kong public.
Lam said he had spent two sleepless nights making the decision to speak.
"If I don't speak up Hong Kong will be hopeless. It's not just a personal matter," he said.
"I dare not go back."
He added that while in custody he had been told that his case was being dealt with by a "special unit" which he believed was not part of the ordinary police or military.