Reopening of Causeway Books in Taiwan on Hold|金主撤資 銅鑼灣書店西門町重生計畫暫緩

Is Chinese influence also evident in Hong Kong? In March this year, Causeway Bay Books bookstore founder Lam Wing-kee announced that he had gotten funding to reopen his store in Taipei to sell books banned by China. However, recent rumors whisper that his financial backers pulled out due to pressure. Famous documentary maker Kevin Lee voices his worry that the interference of pressure from China will intensify in Taiwan and Hong Kong.


Young people don't care about China. This does not bode well for the future of Taiwan.

During a press conference in March, Lam Wing-kee announced he would be reopening his store, Causeway Bay Books, in Taipei's Ximending. The store, which would sell books banned in China, was supposed to open in May. According to reports, Lam's investors pulled the plug on the project due to pressure from China and the store opening has been put on hold.

The financial backers included a pro-democracy businessperson in Hong Kong who does business in China. He was scared, so he exited. At the time, there was still a bit of hope that someone in Taiwan would be willing to step up, but no one was.

Documentary filmmaker Kevin Lee says he heard the news from Lam last month. Lam's Taiwan investor announced he was exiting the project shortly after the press conference.

You can see from the Hong Kong investor being afraid to get involved that China's grip is strong. And then you have the Taiwanese person who was interested in investing in Causeway Bay Books. They may travel to China from time to time, and they started thinking about the consequences.

Lam says he will not give up on reopening his store in Taiwan.