Scholar's appeal for held books is rejected

GUANGZHOU: An appeal by an overseas Chinese professor attempting to recover his books confiscated by customs upon his return trip from Hong Kong was rejected.

Feng Chongyi, 48, associate professor of China Studies and deputy director of the China research center with the University of Technology in Sydney, was carrying more than 20 books purchased in Hong Kong as he entered inspections at the Guangzhou Tianhe railway station on June 5.

Customs officers, however, confiscated 11 books on the spot. After more than two hours of negotiations with the customs office, Feng was unable to regain the books.