Lee had also requested for the cancellation of his missing person case and that he did not require assistance from the Hong Kong government or police.
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Projections for earnings of companies in the Shanghai Composite Index in the next 12 months were lowered by 6.8 percent, while those for firms in Hong Kong’s Hang Seng China Enterprises Index, or the H-share gauge, were reduced by 6.2 percent, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
Thursday’s government statement again insisted Lee had “returned to the mainland by his own means voluntarily and it was not an abduction”.
The survey of more than 1,000 residents and hundreds of journalists found that self-censorship was more common, with the greatest concern being over criticizing China’s Communist Party-run government.
“This fear will definitely affect our daily work in terms of how vocal we should be in terms of writing our commentary, as well as in reporting mainland-related stories”, HKJA vice chairwoman Shirley Yam said.
Another missing bookseller, Lam Wing-kei, has yet to be released, with police saying Thursday that they are still following up on his case with mainland authorities.
The Causeway Bay bookseller at the centre of the missing booksellers mystery is putting the past behind him and starting afresh, he said on Friday.
Following the news reports, many mainlanders are setting their sights on vaccines provided in Hong Kong, where the product quality is more trustworthy due to strict regulatory control. According to the statement, Lee said he was safe and free while travelling in China.
Hong Kong Shue Yan University’s journalism course leader Leung Tin-wai said the key factor affecting the city’s media is the lack of press freedom across the border.
Beijing has repeatedly said its officials wouldn’t do anything illegal.
But Lee was the only one to disappear from Hong Kong.
“Ten Years” depicts Hong Kong a decade from now, more than halfway through a promised 50-year period in which civil liberties such as freedom of speech will remain intact as the city transitions from British to Chinese rule.
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Immigration officials also took a statement from Lee, adding he did not provide “thorough information” about his departure and that they would further investigate whether he had committed any immigration offences.
