简体中文
Two Hong Kong journalists, who came to be in touch with both men involved in the incident, disapproved Li Kwok Keung, a veteran publisher in Hong Kong, to publicize and publish late literature master Qian Zhongshu's private letters.
Hong Kong news commentator He Liangliang told the APD that Li, as the owner of the letter whom Qian entrusted to, should respect the view of Yang Jiang, Qian's widow, both as a friend and a partner he worked with.
"Much of the content of the letters are private and confidential, especially those involving Qian's widow, Miss Yang Jiang, who is still alive and well at present," He said.
He Liangliang is also keeping a letter from Qian himself.
"This happened when I was a student doing my postgraduate course. Mr. Qian was a nice person. I wrote him a letter to asked him a few questions, and he replied," said He, "But I've never ever thought about auctioning the letter."
Poon Yiu-ming, Chief Editor of Ming Pao Daily in Hong Kong, a Chinese newspaper, is keeping even more letters from Qian and Yang.
He had the first public interview of Qian after China adopted an open-up policy 1978. He was also frequently in touch with Qian through letters, as he was a publisher of a Chinese literature magazine.
Holding the same view as He, Poon condemned auctioning of personal letters from a moral perspective.
"I understand that as a prestigious scholar, Qian's letters would undoubtedly arouse tremendous interests of those in the literature field," said Poon. "But once privacy is involved, Li should definitely refrain from unveiling the letters to the public."
Both Poon and He said they knew Li personally. He Liangliang said he came to know Li a long time ago, and described him as a "decent man", while Poon said Li used to be an active writer back then. Nonetheless, both of them were curious about Li's intention, as Li had been out of touch with the Hong Kong media field for a long time.
Even though the spat is set to be settled by legal means, Poon said he believes Yang can win the lawsuit, because according to the intellectual property rights law of civil law jurisdictions, copyrights are not transferrable.
"The author sending a letter to another will not stop him from retaining the copyrights to letter. As a family member of the author, Miss Yang should have the right to decide how to use the letters, for as long as five years," said Poon.
He Liangliang advised Li, as well as the auction house he appointed, to think twice before progressing."Theybetter calm down first," He said.
However, this is not what the auctioneer thinks.
The Sungari International Auction, the company to hold the auction said, they had made great efforts to collect the letters and would not withdraw them from this year's spring auction. The executive of the company said that the items going under the hammer provide new insights for students of contemporary literature.
Yang has little chance to win such a lawsuit, an insider of the auction industry in Hong Kong told the APD.
"I do understand Yang's concern of privacy protection, but the letters of celebrities are regarded as collections instead of publications," he said. "The company will have no legal problems if the client can legally approve his fully ownership in the items and sign a verification with the auction house."
The letters in issue were written by Qian Zhongshu who died in 1997, to his widow, Yang Jiang, a renowned writer in her own right, and their daughter Qian Yuan. Yang expressed her disapproval of publicizing the family's correspondence in an open letter on June 26, saying she was "very much hurt and shocked" when she heard about the planned auction. Around 100 letters and manuscripts by China's two famous writers are to go under hammer in Beijing on June 21, amid privacy row.
"I cannot accept the public auctioning of the intimate and private letters between friends, " Yang said. "How can privacy, trust and emotion be traded as commodities?" she asked.
Yang, 102 translated the Spanish epic Don Quixote into Chinese.
Known for his wit and erudition, Qian Zhongshu enjoys international reputation for his exceptional work as a Chinese literary scholar and writer. His satiric novel Fortress Besieged which was turned into a television play in 1990 made him a household name in China.
Their only daughter, Qian Yuan, an English professor, died of cancer in 1997.
The owner of the letters is Li Kwok-keung, formerly editor-in-chief of Hong Kong-based Wide Angle Magazine. He is also the owner of the two manuscripts, which to be auctioned together with the letters.
As a publisher in Hong Kong, Li maintains long-time friendship with the Qian family. Li met Qian in 1979 and acted as the coordinator when Wide Angle's parent company was to publish the two books. Li established a close relationship with the family, and received the manuscripts as a gift.
Qian made some controversial remarks in the letters, involving some of the famous contemporary literary figures of China such as Lu Xun and Mao Dun, according to Yang. It would be inappropriate to publish, she said.
If the letters and manuscripts go under the hammer, a lawsuit would be filed to protect the legal rights of her family, she said.
Li responded that it was one of his friends who had suggested the auction, but did not specify whom the "friend" is. He said he had received a phone call from Yang and promised to send her a written explanation on this issue, according to local media.
