Democratic Progressive Party Secretary-General Luo Wen-chia (羅文嘉) and Hong Kong bookseller Lam Wing-kei (林榮基) yesterday discussed the right to political protest at a public event, at which Lam also announced his plan to open a bookstore in Taipei.
Billed as “A Dialogue Between Two Bookstore Bosses,” Luo and Lam discussed politics, democracy, repression by China and promoting reading among the youth under the theme: “Today Hong Kong, Tomorrow Taiwan?”
Operating a bookstore under an oppressive regime is very dangerous, said Luo, who also owns Buffalo Bookstore, the venue for the dialogue.
Photo: George Tsorng, Taipei Times
As the founder of Causeway Bay Books in Hong Kong, Lam stocked political books, Luo said, adding that Lam was arrested in 2015 when crossing the border into Shenzhen, and was detained and tortured by Chinese authorities for eight months.
“This is why [Hong Kong] protesters are fighting against the extradition bill, because China kidnapped Lam illegally... From this case, people there realized that China’s promise of ‘one country, two systems’ was impossible, and they see the bill as a way for Chinese authorities to legitimize such illegal kidnappings,” Luo said.
“Many Hong Kongers said they are now under darkness, but are hoping to return to the sunshine. We must wonder why there are Taiwanese who are living in the sunshine, but want to live in darkness,” Luo said.
Lam said he plans to open a bookstore in Taipei’s Ximending (西門町), because it is a popular area for young people.
“Taiwan’s youth are looking at their mobile phones all the time. If they do not read books, they will not have a good understanding of the outside world, which ... poses a grave danger for Taiwan’s future,” Lam said.
His vision is to open a bookstore where people can connect.
“It could become a place for academics, youths and students to communicate and interact with each other, so it would not just be for selling books,” Lam said.
Lam said that his Taiwanese visa expires next month, “but I know I cannot go back to Hong Kong.”
He said he hopes the government would let him stay and open a bookstore.
“Bookstores are small, and difficult to manage and keep going, but ruling regimes are fearful of them, because a bookstore has its own soul and its own thoughts,” Luo said. “It would be Taiwan’s good fortune if Lam opened his store in Taipei.”
Greenpeace yesterday said that it is to appeal a decision last month by the Taipei High Administrative Court to dismiss its 2021 lawsuit against the Ministry of Economic Affairs over “loose” regulations governing major corporate electricity consumers. The climate-related lawsuit — the first of its kind in Taiwan — sought to require the government to enforce higher green energy thresholds on major corporations to reduce emissions in light of climate change and an uptick in extreme weather. The suit, filed by Greenpeace East Asia, the Environmental Jurists Association and four individual plaintiffs, was dismissed on May 8 following four years of litigation. The
STAY AWAY: An official said people should avoid disturbing snakes, as most do not actively attack humans, but would react defensively if threatened Taitung County authorities yesterday urged the public to stay vigilant and avoid disturbing snakes in the wild, following five reported snakebite cases in the county so far this year. Taitung County Fire Department secretary Lin Chien-cheng (林建誠) said two of the cases were in Donghe Township (東河) and involved the Taiwan habus, one person was bit by a Chinese pit viper near the South Link Railway and the remaining two were caused by unidentified snakes. He advised residents near fields to be cautious of snakes hiding in shady indoor areas, especially when entering or leaving their homes at night. In case of a
A tropical disturbance off the southeastern coast of the Philippines might become the first typhoon of the western Pacific typhoon season, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The system lacks a visible center and how it would develop is only likely to become clear on Sunday or Monday, the CWA said, adding that it was not yet possible to forecast the potential typhoon's effect on Taiwan. The American Meteorological Society defines a tropical disturbance as a system made up of showers and thunderstorms that lasts for at least 24 hours and does not have closed wind circulation.
DIPLOMACY: It is Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo’s first visit to Taiwan since he took office last year, while Eswatini’s foreign minister is also paying a visit A delegation led by Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo arrived in Taiwan yesterday afternoon and is to visit President William Lai (賴清德) today. The delegation arrived at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport at 4:55pm, and was greeted by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). It is Arevalo’s first trip to Taiwan since he took office last year, and following the visit, he is to travel to Japan to celebrate the 90th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Arevalo said at the airport that he is very glad to make the visit to Taiwan, adding that he brings an important message of responsibility
RSS