Five arrested after Hong Kong police raid independent bookshops
Five people have been arrested in Hong Kong following police raids on two independent bookshops over allegations that they sold and displayed books considered to be “seditious.”
Authorities said the publications were intended to stir “hatred” against Hong Kong’s government, judiciary and law enforcement institutions. Police seized several books during the operations, according to a government statement.
The suspects, comprising two men aged 37 and 57 and three women aged between 30 and 59, are accused of breaching national security laws by acting with “seditious intent.”
They remain in custody while investigations continue and could face up to seven years in prison if convicted.
The authorities did not disclose the names of the targeted bookshops. However, AFP journalists reported seeing police officers escort a woman in handcuffs from the Have A Nice Stay bookshop into a police vehicle.
Located in the busy Mong Kok district, the shop was established in 2022 by former journalists and specialised in books covering topics such as democracy, authoritarianism and media literacy.
The police raid came shortly after the bookstore announced plans to close in August, citing financial difficulties and concerns over an unclear “red line” regarding materials that could attract official scrutiny.
Local reports said the nearby Greenfield Book Store was also searched by police.
The shop describes itself on Facebook as offering books from Hong Kong and Taiwan covering areas including literature, history, philosophy, art, sociology and personal development.
Neither of the two bookstores was participating in this year’s Hong Kong Book Fair, which began on Wednesday.
The latest action follows two other bookstore raids in Hong Kong in 2026. Two employees of the Hunter store were arrested in June, while four people linked to Book Punch were arrested in March.
Amnesty International criticised the raids, saying they reflected a growing climate of fear in Hong Kong, where individuals could face criminal charges based on the books they sell or own.
The rights group said uncertainty surrounding what authorities consider unacceptable material has forced publishers, writers and booksellers to self-censor over fears that certain titles could lead to investigations, arrests or closure.
Source: BBC
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