Hong Kong Police Raid Independent Bookstore Run by Former Journalists
Police seized boxes and other materials as the raids followed earlier national security arrests at other independent bookshops, local media reported.
- On Wednesday, July 15, 2026, Hong Kong police raided independent bookstores Have A Nice Stay and Greenfield Book Store, arresting five people on suspicion of displaying materials with "seditious intention" under the 2024 national security law.
- These raids mark the third round of police operations targeting independent booksellers this year, following similar actions against Book Punch in March and Hunter Bookstore in June for allegedly selling seditious publications.
- Customs officials referred the case after discovering books shipped from overseas, and the National Security Department alleged the materials' content "includes stirring up hatred against the city's government, judiciary and law enforcement agencies."
- The Committee to Protect Journalists urged authorities to "stop treating publishing activities as threats," while Amnesty International's Deputy Regional Director Sarah Brooks condemned the "escalating attacks" on independent bookstores.
- Uncertainty over "unclear red lines" makes it difficult for publishers to determine which books are legal, prompting Have A Nice Stay to announce its planned closure in August.
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74 Articles
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At the independent bookstore Have A Nice Stay, in Hong Kong's bustling Mong Kok district, officers removed several books on Wednesday while one of the...
Hong Kong police raided two independent bookstores on Wednesday (July 15) that champion freedom of speech, detaining five employees on suspicion of violating the National Security Law. Analysts believe that the sale of books, including those on the history of the Chinese Communist Party, by these independent bookstores has led the CCP to perceive them as a challenge to its regime, prompting the authorities to crack down hard. Human rights activi…
Two men and three women were accused of selling books that incite "hate" against the government. "The law is very clear. If you break the law, you have crossed the red line," said head of security.
Lai expresses solidarity with arrested HK booksellers
President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday expressed solidarity with independent bookstore owners and urged Hong Kong to respect diverse views after authorities in the territory on Wednesday raided two bookstores and arrested five people on suspicion of selling allegedly seditious publications. Videos an
BT
Five bookstores were arrested on Wednesday for what the security chief described as seditious material.
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