Mystery of missing Hong Kong bookseller deepens after letter arrives – what do we know?

Lee Bo is the latest man to disappear from a Hong Kong publishing team which specialises in salacious titles about Chinese politicians. The disappearances have raised alarm among politicians and activists in Hong Kong, who believe that Beijing may be involved.

What do we know so far?

Last Wednesday, Paul Lee, an editor at controversial Hong Kong publishing house Mighty Current, vanished. Lee – also known as Lee Bo - was last seen that day leaving a warehouse.

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In October, four associates at the small bookstore he worked at also vanished, and it was Mr Lee who raised the alarm over their disappearance. Activists say Chinese security officials carried out illegal snatchings in order to silence the former colony's bustling trade in banned political books.

The Guardian quotes a source which says the booksellers' disappearances are part of an attempt to stamp out a "smear campaign" against Chinese president Xi Jinping.

However, since then there have been two significant developments. Lee's wife has withdrawn her request for police to help find her husband, telling officers that he has been in touch with her by phone.

Sophie Choi says he called her from Shenzhen, just over the border in mainland China, and told her he was helping with an investigation. He advised her to "be careful", she said.

Also, a letter, said to have been handwritten by Lee, has been published by Taiwan's Central News Agency. The author of the note states that he went to China of his own volition and is "working with the concerned parties".

The letter, which was dated Sunday and reportedly faxed to his colleague, states that he "returned to mainland my own way" and added: "I am very well. Everything is fine. And please do look after the bookstore."

Is the letter genuine?

Activists believe the note was indeed written by Lee, but under duress from his captors. They believe he was forced to write the note to dampen public concern over his whereabouts and safety.

Why might the Chinese government have an issue with the publisher?

The New York Times says Mighty Current has written, published and marketed a series of books highly critical of Chinese politicians. The titles contain details of the sex lives of top leaders and allegations of corruption in politics.

The books are banned in the mainland, where the news media and the publishing industry are tightly controlled by the Communist Party.

Did a particular book land the publisher in trouble?

The BBC says the men's disappearance is suspected to be linked to a specific book the publisher may have been planning about an alleged former mistress of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

What has been the outcome of the four who went missing last year?

One of them, publishing house owner Gui Minhai, was last seen in Thailand. The other three were last seen in mainland China.

Has there been any word from the Chinese government on Lee's case?

Nothing official, but an editorial printed in the Global Times newspaper, a mouthpiece for the Chinese government, accused activists of trying to "hype" the incident and turn it into a political issue "to create estrangement between Hong Kong and the mainland".