Skip to main content
See every side of every news story
Published loading...Updated

Hong Kong booksellers arrested for 'seditious publications' as Jimmy Lai's biography seized

Founder Pong Yat-ming and three staff face charges for selling seditious books under the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance following a police raid at Book Punch.

  • On Tuesday, Hong Kong police arrested Book Punch owner Pong Yat-ming and three staff for allegedly selling "seditious" publications, including a 2024 biography of jailed media tycoon Jimmy Lai.
  • Police targeted "The Troublemaker," a biography by Mark Clifford about Lai, who is serving a 20-year sentence for foreign collusion and sedition under the Beijing-imposed national security law.
  • Under the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, the employees face accusations of "knowingly selling a publication that has a seditious intention," an offence punishable by seven to 10 years in prison.
  • Book Punch remained closed on Tuesday with a sign reading "Closed for one day due to an unexpected incident," while a police spokesperson stated officers "will take actions according to actual circumstances and in accordance with the law."
  • Describing the arrests as a "sad and ironic commentary" on free expression, Mark Clifford, the biography's author, noted recent government amendments allow customs officers to seize items deemed to have "seditious intention.
Insights by Ground AI

25 Articles

Associated Press NewsAssociated Press News
+6 Reposted by 6 other sources
Lean Left

Hong Kong bookstore staff reportedly arrested for selling Jimmy Lai's biography

A Hong Kong bookstore owner and his staff have been reportedly arrested on suspicion of selling seditious publications, including a biography of jailed pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai.

·United States
Read Full Article

Four Hong Kong booksellers are accused of "selling insurrectional publications, " which could be subject to a legal tightening: the obligation to issue private passwords.

·Frankfurt, Germany
Read Full Article
Think freely.Subscribe and get full access to Ground NewsSubscriptions start at $9.99/yearSubscribe

Bias Distribution

  • 37% of the sources lean Left
37% Left

Factuality Info Icon

To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium

Ownership

Info Icon

To view ownership data please Upgrade to Vantage

rthk.hk broke the news in on Tuesday, March 24, 2026.
Too Big Arrow Icon
Sources are mostly out of (0)

Similar News Topics

News
Feed Dots Icon
For You
Search Icon
Search
Blindspot LogoBlindspotLocal