Fresh Protests in Hong Kong Over Bookseller Controversy

Thousands protested in Hong Kong Sunday over allegations the owner of a critical bookstore has gone missing.

Activists say 6,000 people joined the latest protest, which marched through central Hong Kong, stopping to demonstrate outside key government buildings.

“The turnout has reflected the determination of Hong Kong people to defend their rights,” activist Richard Tsoi told the South China Morning Post.

“The central government needs to promise Hong Kong people that the city will enjoy a high level of autonomy, Tsoi said.

Tsoi's organization, the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China has demanded Beijing respond to allegations bookseller Lee Bo has gone missing.

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Bo is a shareholder of the controversial Causeway Bay Books, which specializes in selling and publishing anti-Beijing books.

Four of Bo's associates have also allegedly disappeared over the past year.

Allegations Bo disappeared first surfaced in late December, with some activists accusing central government agents of kidnapping Bo and holding him on the mainland.

Since then, Bo's wife has withdrawn a missing person report, stating he traveled to mainland China voluntarily in relation to an unspecified investigation.

In a fax, Bo has reportedly stated “everything is fine,” according to the Hong Kong Free Press.

In second letter allegedly from Bo made public Saturday, the bookseller urged the public to not make such a “big fuss.”

Hong Kong has seen a wave of protests since 2014, with activists accusing Beijing of seeking to curb the territory's civil and political rights.

Beijing has long maintained it respects the notion of “one country, two systems,” under which Hong Kong has autonomy from the central government.