Hong Kong authorities have raided two bookstores and arrested five individuals on suspicion of selling allegedly seditious publications, according to local media reports.
Videos and photos from multiple outlets showed police officers seizing boxes from the buildings housing Have A Nice Stay and Greenfield Book Store in the Mong Kok district. The arrested individuals include two men and three women.
Police stated that an investigation revealed the five were suspected of displaying seditious materials and selling publications that incite hatred against the city's government, judiciary, and law enforcement agencies. The case was referred to police after customs officials discovered allegedly seditious books in goods shipped from overseas.
This marks the third round of arrests linked to independent bookstores this year, following similar operations in March and June. These actions have been widely interpreted as efforts to stifle dissent in the semi-autonomous city.
Have A Nice Stay had previously announced it would close on August 30, citing financial difficulties and an "elusive red line" as contributing factors. The bookstore was closed during its usual opening hours on Wednesday, as were calls to Greenfield and a founder of Have A Nice Stay went unanswered.
Historically, Hong Kong was known for its freedom of publication and expression, with some mainland Chinese residents traveling to the city to purchase books deemed politically sensitive.
In 2016, Lam Wing-kee, the owner of Causeway Bay Books, gained international attention after revealing he was detained by Chinese authorities after traveling from Hong Kong to Shenzhen. Four associates of his bookstore had disappeared in late 2015.
Following political shifts after anti-government protests in 2019, independent bookstores have faced an increasingly challenging operating environment.
Authorities maintain that national security laws are essential for the city's stability. Hong Kong's Secretary for Security, Chris Tang, has stated that the government would not create a list of banned books, deeming it impractical.
Previous arrests include the owner and staff of Book Punch in March, reportedly on suspicion of selling seditious publications, including a biography of media tycoon Jimmy Lai. In June, two booksellers were arrested on suspicion of selling seditious materials and receiving funds from foreign political organizations; all were later released on bail.