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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.
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Hong Kong bookstore staff reportedly arrested for selling 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. Separately, officials on Tuesday removed three Apple Daily-linked firms from the companies registry…
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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 ArticleFour 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 ArticleCoverage Details
Total News Sources25
Leaning Left7Leaning Right6Center6Last UpdatedBias Distribution37% Left
Bias Distribution
- 37% of the sources lean Left
37% Left
L 37%
C 32%
R 31%
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