Hong Kong authorities raided two bookstores and arrested five people on suspicion of selling seditious publications, marking the latest step targeting independent booksellers. Videos and photos from multiple media outlets on Wednesday showed officers wearing police vests seizing boxes from the building that houses Have A Nice Stay, a bookshop founded by former journalists. AFP reporters saw officers lead away a woman in handcuffs to a van.
Details of the Raids
A few streets away, a similar scene unfolded at Greenfield Book Store, according to a video by online news outlet The Collective. Police said they arrested two men and three women on suspicion of displaying and offering for sale items with seditious intention, breaching the 2024 national security law, after raiding two stores in the Mong Kok district, without identifying the locations. AFP reporters witnessed the raid on Have a Nice Stay, and local media, citing unnamed sources, said officers searched Greenfield Book Store.
Third Round of Arrests
This is the third round of arrests linked to independent bookstores after similar operations in March and June, widely seen as stifling dissent in the Asian financial hub. Hong Kong was once known for its freedom of publication and expression, with some Chinese residents crossing the border to buy politically sensitive books. The city's security chief, Chris Tang, told reporters on Thursday: “If you are a bookseller, you have a responsibility to ensure that the books you sell do not endanger national security.” He added, “I believe booksellers bear this responsibility,” comparing it to food vendors ensuring their goods do not contain poison or breach the law.
Police Statement and Investigation
The police statement said the five people were suspected of displaying seditious materials and selling seditious publications, including content that stirred up hatred against the city's government, judiciary, and law enforcement agencies. Customs officials referred the case after discovering seditious books in a batch of goods shipped to Hong Kong from overseas. Tang did not provide details on which publications breached the rules but said books inciting hatred against authorities would be considered unlawful. “The law is very clear. If you break the law, you have crossed the red line,” he said. Tang reiterated that officials would not compile a list of banned books, focusing on content rather than titles.
Impact on Independent Bookstores
Have a Nice Stay bookstore had already announced it would shut down on 30 August, citing financial difficulties and an elusive red line. Lam Wing-kee, owner of Causeway Bay Books until his death earlier this month, made international headlines in 2016 when he revealed he was held by Chinese authorities after crossing from Hong Kong to Shenzhen. Four others affiliated with that bookstore disappeared in late 2015. Following political changes after anti-government protests in 2019, independent bookstores have faced an even more challenging environment. Authorities say national security laws are crucial for the city's stability. In March, police arrested the owner and staff of Book Punch store for selling seditious publications, including a biography of former pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai, sentenced to 20 years in prison. In June, police arrested two booksellers on suspicion of selling seditious publications and receiving funds from foreign political organizations. All were later released on bail.
