Renowned Hong Kong bookseller, Lam Wing-kee, who defied Chinese authorities by selling critical literature, passed away at the age of 70 in Taipei's Mackay Memorial Hospital. His death occurred on Thursday after a prolonged battle with lung cancer. In 2015, Lam was detained in mainland China for over 400 days and was among several bookstore owners and staff who vanished, later discovered to be held by Chinese authorities as part of a crackdown on bookstores in the former British colony that sold publications critical of China's leaders. Fearing potential extradition under Hong Kong's proposed bill, Lam fled to Taiwan in 2019. His death has sparked widespread mourning and concern about the erosion of freedoms in Hong Kong. In a post on Facebook, Taiwan President Lai Ching-te expressed deep sadness over his passing and praised Lam for upholding the value of free expression amidst authoritarian repression. In his last BBC interview, Lam emphasized the importance of standing by one's values, stating that everyone should continue to fight for what they believe in without causing harm to others.