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The Hong Kong democrat who claimed he was kidnapped and tortured in the city by mainland agents rebutted allegations that his story was a self scripted charade as he pledged to quit the local political arena for good in the wake of the incident.

The remarks by Howard Lam Tsz-kin came as pro-establishment lawmakers challenged the authenticity of his accounts made on Friday, which have renewed fears the one country, two systems principle has been eroded.

Lam said he was abducted by mainland agents in Yau Ma Tei on Thursday, pushed into a van, brought to a building, and tortured with staples punched into his thighs. He said he woke up on a Sai Kung beach on Friday morning.

But some questioned why Lam did not immediately report the case to police and even cleaned his clothes when he got home a move described by founding Democratic Party chairman Martin Lee Chu-ming as a bit silly as doing so could have jeopardised evidence needed for an investigation.

There was sand and mud [in the clothes] and they were stinky, Lam said on Sunday during a Facebook Live session. My wife asked me to soak the clothes ... and so I did. I didnt think too much about it.

He added that his mother was horrified by the incident and did not want him to report the case to the police or make it public.

But Lee and former Democratic Party chairman Albert Ho Chun-yan eventually prevailed upon Lams mother, with both arguing that a press conference would afford Lam better protection.

Lam on Sunday clarified he never altered the written statement he gave police regarding the exact spot where he was kidnapped, as suggested by some reports, and voiced disappointment the force leaked some details of the statement.

He earlier said he believed the abduction was linked to his intention to send a signed postcard from Barcelona soccer star Lionel Messi to Liu Xia, widow of the late mainland dissident, Liu Xiaobo.

I do not want to be a hero

Lam

But Lam vowed on Facebook Live to end his political activism in Hong Kong as he denied allegations he was trying to exploit the incident to build political capital.

I am under immense pressure. I am very exhausted, he said. I do not want to be a hero, and I do not want to climb up the political ladder.

I will not actively engage in any political activities any more. I am just a coward who hopes to keep my family members safe. Goodbye and thank you.

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Hong Kong democrat Howard Lam rebuts his kidnapping claim doubters - South China Morning Post