Convicted scholar plans return to Hong Kong

Li Shaomin and his family plan to return to Hong Kong this week

By CNN's Patricia Lai

HONG KONG, China -- The father of U.S. academic Li Shaomin says he has no idea why China accused his son of spying, but does believe the Hong Kong government will allow his son to re-enter the territory.

Li Honglin said his son wants to return to Hong Kong to continue his academic research, mainly on China-Taiwan relations and China's economy.

Li Shaomin was arrested in Shenzhen, mainland China's border with Hong Kong, late February. He was then transferred and detained in Beijing for months before a Chinese court said he had been convicted for spying for Taiwan.

The U.S. academic was then deported from China to the U.S.

"The purpose of his research is only to contribute to the well-being of China and China's modernization," the father said.

Li Hongli was formerly a Chinese government official and head of Fujian Academy of Social Science. He is now retired living in Hong Kong with his son's family.

He told CNN that Li Shaomin, Li's wife Amy Liu Yingli and daughter Diana who are now in the U.S., will fly to Hong Kong this week.

A challenge

Hong Kong remains a Special Administrative Region, which enjoys a high level of autonomy after the 1997 sovereignty handover to Beijing from the British.

But the territory's head, Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa, is widely seen to be a "yes man" to China.

He was criticized, especially by Hong Kong democrats, for not upholding Hong Kong people's rights and bowing to Chinese authority.

Speculation has surrounded whether the Tung administration would refuse to let Li Shaomin return to Hong Kong lest China frown on the idea that a convicted spy could be domiciled on Chinese territory.

The Hong Kong Immigration Department has said they do not comment on individual cases.

"I don't believe Hong Kong government will block his entry . . . He's been living in Hong Kong for five to six years and holds a valid work permit," Li Hongli said.

Academic research

The father said Li only wants to continue his normal life in Hong Kong, including teaching at Hong Kong City University and conducting his research works.

Li's studies mainly focus on cross-straits relations, China economic reforms, and modernization of market economy.

He has compiled publications such as: "China's Reform and Business Management", "Political Dilemmas of Economic Reform in Jiang Zemin's China", "China Markets Yearbook", "The Political Economy of Contemporary China".

"I don't know why he is convicted. As far as I know all his research is purely for academic purpose, published in books, in academic journals or newspapers," Li Honglin told CNN.

The father said he is thankful to the scholars, the media, and the U.S. government's support during the period when Li Shaomin was under detention in Beijing.

Another Chinese scholar Gao Zhan, also convicted for espionage, was sent to the U.S. on medical parole after China sentenced her to ten years imprisonment.

She was said to have collected confidential information and was working with Li Shaomin. New York Times reported in an interview with Gao Zhan that she admitted provided Li with some information on China which she did not see as secret material.