Hong Kong: China has confirmed that a missing Hong Kong-based bookseller, one of five men whose disappearance fuelled fears of an erosion of the city’s freedoms, is on the mainland, the city’s government said.

The news will add to fears of pro-democracy lawmakers, activists and some residents who believe mainland authorities are kidnapping critics to try to silence dissent.

Lee Bo, who works for a publishing house that sells titles critical of Beijing, was last seen at a book warehouse in Hong Kong on December 30.

He was the fifth employee of the Mighty Current publishing house to go missing in recent months.

Three were in China when they vanished, but the disappearance of Lee from Hong Kong and of another man from Thailand has raised fears of Chinese authorities operating internationally.