銅鑼灣書店店長林榮基病逝 遺骨安眠北海岸

銅鑼灣書店店長林榮基於7月2日在台北馬偕醫院病逝，享壽70歲12。其告別禮拜於7月31日在台北濟南教會舉行12，行政院長卓榮泰代表總統賴清德致贈褒揚令12。總統在褒揚令中表彰林榮基「深根在地公民實踐，串連台港文化脈絡；固守言論自由信念，捍衛民主法治價值」2。林榮基的遺骨安眠於北海岸1。

林榮基以拒絕向中共交出銅鑼灣書店讀者名單與寄書紀錄而聞名，被尊為捍衛出版自由與思想自由的象徵1。他曾表示「我不恐懼死亡；我恐懼失去自由的恐懼」1，並以「書枱不屈膝，我盡我本分」1作為人生信念。陸委會主委邱垂正指出，林榮基於2019年移居台灣，在台灣重啟銅鑼灣書店2。文化部長李遠表示將不讓銅鑼灣書店消失，並推動「金同廈文學森林計畫」延續林榮基的精神2。

Lam Wing-kee, the renowned operator of the Causeway Bay Bookstore, passed away on July 2 at Taipei MacKay Memorial Hospital at the age of 70.12 A memorial service was held on July 31 at Jinan Church in Taipei, where Premier Cho Jung-tai presented a presidential commendation on behalf of President Lai Ching-te.12 The presidential citation honored Lam for his commitment to civil engagement rooted in local communities, bridging Taiwan-Hong Kong cultural ties, and steadfastly defending press freedom and democratic values.2 His remains were laid to rest at a cemetery on Taiwan's northern coast.1

Lam gained international recognition for his refusal to surrender the Causeway Bay Bookstore's reader lists and shipping records to Chinese authorities.1 He became emblematic of resistance to censorship and a champion of intellectual liberty. Among his most cherished expressions was the phrase, "The bookshelf does not bow; I fulfill my duty."1 In reflecting on his principles, Lam once stated, "I do not fear death; I fear the fear of losing freedom."1

Cultural Minister Lee Yuan emphasized the government's commitment to perpetuating Lam's legacy through the "Golden Xiamen Literary Forest Initiative," vowing that the Causeway Bay Bookstore would not disappear.2 According to the Mainland Affairs Council, Lam relocated to Taiwan in 2019 and subsequently reopened the Causeway Bay Bookstore on the island.2