Hong Kong national security police arrested five booksellers on suspected charges of performing an act with seditious intent following a customs interception of overseas shipments. The crackdown targets independent stores that have faced an increasingly strict political climate since Beijing imposed sweeping national security legislation in 2020.
Independent bookstores in Hong Kong have long operated as cultural hubs that offer a broader range of political and social titles than mainstream shops. Many of these independent spaces served as vital outlets for the city’s civil society by hosting book talks and workshops. However, that once-flourishing industry has dwindled over recent years.
Customs Interception Triggers Mong Kok Raids
The latest enforcement action began when Hong Kong customs officials intercepted a batch of books with seditious intention inside a consignment shipped to Hong Kong from overseas. Customs referred the case to national security police, who subsequently searched two shops located in Mong Kok within the bustling Kowloon district.
Authorities arrested two men aged 37 and 57, alongside three women aged 30 to 59. Police stated that the five arrestees are suspected of displaying items with seditious intent and selling publications with seditious content inside the shops. Officials asserted that the seized publications incited hatred against the government, the judiciary, and law enforcement agencies.
Bookstore Closures and the Elusive Red Line
The South China Morning Post identified the targeted storefronts as Have a Nice Stay and Greenfield Bookstore. Ahead of the raids, Have a Nice Stay announced plans to close on August 30 due to financial losses and an elusive red line regarding what books may be considered problematic.
These mid-July arrests follow a separate case in June where police arrested two owners of a bookshop on suspicion of displaying and selling publications with seditious content. That reopened establishment, Hunter Bookstore, faced subsequent scrutiny as the legal perimeter surrounding cultural and political commentary narrowed further.
International Reaction and Cultural Stances
The detentions drew responses from regional political figures and human rights organizations. Taiwan President Lai Ching-te addressed the cultural impact via his Facebook page, emphasizing the role of independent booksellers.
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te stated that they wished to express their concern and respect to all bookstores and cultural workers who continued to stand their ground in difficult circumstances, adding that thought and writing should not be imprisoned because of political pressure.
External observers also criticized the actions. Yalkun Uluyol, a China researcher at Human Rights Watch, stated that democratic governments should press the Hong Kong authorities to free these booksellers, underscoring the broader international scrutiny facing the city’s publishing sector.
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