Hong Kong publisher Yiu Man-tin, working on Xi Jinping book, held on mainland China
Editor of Morning Bell Press was working with author of book about Xi Jinping when lured to Shenzhen and detained three months ago
A Hong Kong-based publisher who was working to release a dissident's book about President Xi Jinping has been detained on the mainland for nearly three months.
The 73-year-old Yiu Man-tin, also known as Yao Wentian, is the chief editor of Morning Bell Press. He was taken into custody on October 27 after he was "lured" to Shenzhen on the pretence of delivering paint to a long-time friend, said a person who has spoken to Yiu's wife.
Yiu was surrounded by a dozen plain-clothes security agents and formally arrested in early November. Police have not revealed the charges against him, but they could possibly include smuggling and evasion of import tariffs. Calls to the Shenzhen Public Security Bureau went unanswered yesterday.
Yiu had been in discussion with US-based author Yu Jie about the publication of a book about Xi entitled .
Yu wrote , a harsh critique of the former premier that has been banned on the mainland since its 2010 release.
Yu wrote on his Facebook page yesterday that he had completed the first draft of the Xi book and was anticipating an April release. He said he and Yiu were also working on a reprint of his 1998 debut , a controversial collection of political essays.
"We had just finished with the editing and were about to print when he suddenly disappeared," Yu said. "I think his work on my Xi Jinping book is the main reason why he's been detained."
