In brief
Hong Kong police raided two independent bookshops, arresting five people suspected of selling and displaying seditious literature that incited hatred against government and law enforcement. The detained individuals face up to seven years if convicted under the national security legislation. The raids occur amid growing uncertainty over the ‘red line’ defining prohibited materials, prompting a wave of fear and self‑censorship among booksellers. The booksellers, including the newly closed Have A Nice Stay store and nearby Greenfield Book Store, both declined to join the city’s Book Fair this year. Amnesty International has warned that the crackdown may criminalise ordinary reading habits.
Hong Kong Police Raid Two Bookshops, Five People Arrested
Five people suspected of selling books deemed “seditious” in Hong Kong have been arrested after police raided two independent bookshops.
The arrests come after police seized books that authorities say could incite hatred against the territory's government, judiciary, and law enforcement agencies.
The group – two men aged 37 and 57, and three women aged between 30 and 59 – are alleged to have violated national security legislation by acting with seditious intent. If convicted, they face up to seven years in prison.
Officials did not disclose the names of the stores, but sources say one of the shops was the “Have A Nice Stay” bookshop in the bustling Mong Kok district, founded in 2022 by former journalists and stocking works on democracy, authoritarianism and media literacy.
The raid followed the shop’s announcement that it would close in August due to financial pressures and the uncertain “red line” of what material is considered problematic.
The other target was nearby Greenfield Book Store, both of which have announced they will not participate in this year’s Hong Kong Book Fair.
This is the third raid in 2026, after earlier actions at the Hunter store in June and Book Punch in March.
Amnesty International warned that the raids have put booksellers and writers “guessing” which titles could lead to criminal investigations, arrests or shop closures, driving fear and self‑censorship.
