Hong Kong Dissident Lam Wing-kee Passes Away at 70 in Taipei

Taipei: Lam Wing-kee, a Hong Kong dissident renowned for his advocacy for democracy and for re-establishing the famed Causeway Bay Books in Taipei after his departure from Hong Kong, passed away Thursday night at 70. According to Focus Taiwan, Lam succumbed to his illness at Mackay Memorial Hospital in Taipei. Public records indicate that Lam was born in December 1955. His health had been in decline following the recurrence of cancer last year, and he had been recovering since. Lam was admitted to the hospital on June 30 and remained conscious until he fell into a coma on Wednesday, with his condition worsening. Lam was declared dead at 7:01 p.m., as reported by the source. Although he had no family in Taiwan, friends from Hong Kong who reside in the country visited him during his final days and were present during his last moments. In a June interview with CNA, Lam mentioned that he had temporarily closed the bookstore due to his health issues, without specifying when it might reopen. He expressed gratitu de for the hospital's care and the public's concern, stating, "If my health improves, I'll reopen it. If not, I won't." Throughout his stay in Taiwan, Lam actively participated in events organized by Hong Kongers and consistently advocated for democracy and freedom. Causeway Bay Books was originally based in Hong Kong. In 2015, Lam and several staff members were detained in mainland China due to allegations that the bookstore sold books critical of the Chinese Communist Party, leading to its closure in 2016. The detention incident heightened fears of Beijing's encroachment on the freedoms promised to Hong Kongers under the "One Country Two Systems" framework, which was supposed to govern the former British colony following its 1997 handover to China. Lam relocated to Taiwan in 2019 and reopened Causeway Bay Books in Taipei's Zhongshan District, later moving to the Zhongzheng District in 2024. President Lai Ching-te expressed his deep sorrow over Lam's passing in a Facebook post on Thursday evening, exten ding condolences to Lam's family and friends. He remarked, "Lam's passing is a source of great sadness, but the courage he left behind will not disappear," emphasizing that the Taiwanese people will remember him for his unwavering dedication to democracy and freedom. Additionally, the Mainland Affairs Council offered condolences and stated that they would assist Lam's family with funeral arrangements.