Hong Kong Raids 2 Bookstores, Arrests 5 Over Alleged Seditious Publications
Updated
Updated · NBC News · Jul 16
Hong Kong Raids 2 Bookstores, Arrests 5 Over Alleged Seditious Publications
3 articles · Updated · NBC News · Jul 16
Summary
Police seized boxes from two Mong Kok bookstores and arrested five people—two men and three women—after raids linked to allegedly seditious books.
Authorities said customs flagged a shipment of books from overseas, and investigators suspect the stores displayed and sold material that stirred hatred against the government, judiciary and police.
The operation hit Have A Nice Stay and Greenfield Book Store, according to local media; both were closed Wednesday, and Have A Nice Stay had already said it would shut on Aug. 30.
The arrests mark the third crackdown on independent booksellers since March, after earlier sedition cases involving Book Punch and two other booksellers who were later released on bail.
The raids deepen a broader squeeze on Hong Kong's once-open publishing scene, with rights groups calling sedition charges a tool to silence dissent while officials defend national security laws as necessary for stability.
After the third raid on booksellers, where is the line now drawn between free expression and the crime of sedition in Hong Kong?
With no banned book list, is Hong Kong's vague sedition law creating a 'culture of disappearance' for independent thought?
Hong Kong’s Crackdown on Bookstores: The Chilling Impact of Article 23 and National Security Laws in 2026
Overview
In 2026, Hong Kong saw a sharp escalation in crackdowns on independent bookstores, with police raiding two shops and arresting five people in July, following the earlier arrest of Letitia Wong, owner of Hunter Bookstore, and her husband in June for allegedly selling 'seditious' books and receiving foreign funds. These actions highlight a growing pattern of enforcement against independent publishers, reflecting the city's tightening legal environment under new national security laws. The report shows how these developments are part of a broader trend of shrinking freedoms and increasing risks for those involved in publishing and free expression in Hong Kong.