Taiwanese officials and civil society members gathered in Taipei to honor the memory of late Hong Kong bookseller Lam Wing-kee, hailing his resistance and defiance against the Chinese Communist Party. Lam, who passed away at the age of 70 following a battle with cancer, became a symbol of the struggle for free expression after fleeing mainland custody and later relocating to Taiwan.
Premier Cho Jung-tai Honors Bookseller’s Legacy
Premier Cho Jung-tai addressed dozens of mourners gathered at a Presbyterian church in Taipei, describing Lam’s life as a story of struggle, resistance and defiance against the Chinese Communist Party.
During the service, Cho presented a posthumous certificate, which was accepted by Lam’s son, who traveled from Britain for the memorial.
Gathering of More Than 100 Mourners in Taipei
The commemoration drew more than 100 attendees, including senior government figures and activists.
The 2015 Causeway Bay Disappearances and Detention
Lam’s journey into the center of global attention began in late 2015, when he and four other publishers vanished. The group operated a Causeway Bay shop known for selling books detailing political gossip and leadership dynamics in Beijing. Lam later resurfaced in mainland custody, where he was subjected to televised confessions before being permitted to return to Hong Kong in June 2016 to retrieve a customer database.
Defiance, Exile, and Reopening Causeway Bay Books
Instead of complying with mainland authorities, Lam skipped bail and revealed details of his detention, stating that he had been blindfolded after crossing the border at Shenzhen and interrogated for months. In April 2019, he fled to Taiwan as the Hong Kong government pursued extradition legislation that ultimately triggered months of mass pro-democracy demonstrations.
Upon settling in Taipei, Lam reopened Causeway Bay Books in 2020, using the platform to urge the island’s residents to protect their democratic institutions. Last year, he publicly disclosed that his lung adenocarcinoma had advanced to stage four, eventually leading him to close the bookshop for health reasons prior to his death on July 2.
Reflections on Freedom and Resilience
Speakers at the memorial emphasized the ongoing resonance of his warning to the public. Tseng Chien-yuan, executive director of the Taipei-based civil society group Citizen Congress Watch, remarked during the proceedings on Lam’s steadfast dedication despite physical frailty. Attendees shared similar reflections, including a volunteer identified by the surname Lee who recalled Lam’s frequent admonition to cherish democratic freedoms that remain absent in Hong Kong.