Independent bookstores in Hong Kong, once vibrant spaces for readers to engage with critical ideas, are facing growing pressure and restrictions, a trend that echoes the tightening of freedoms in mainland China. Booksellers report increased visits from authorities and a climate of apprehension that is curtailing open expression.
Even shops that maintain a low profile, such as Luck Win Bookstore and Elmbook, have come under official criticism. In the weeks before a recent book fair, these stores were accused in the Beijing-controlled newspaper Wen Wei Po of selling books that promoted "soft resistance." Titles mentioned included "The Hong Kong Diaries" by Chris Patten, the former governor of Hong Kong, and "300 Short Essays" by Lee Yee, a columnist for the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper. The latter publication was shut down, and its owner, Jimmy Lai, was jailed under the city's security laws.
Tong Kin-long of University College London suggests that authorities aim to create an environment where individuals self-censor, rather than explicitly defining boundaries. "They want people to work out the red lines for themselves, or to censor themselves before crossing them," Tong stated.
For some readers from mainland China, Hong Kong's independent bookstores have served as a crucial window into a different, freer world. However, this perceived freedom is diminishing. Zhu, a reader, notes encountering authorities more frequently in Hong Kong than on the mainland, recalling an instance where government officials entered a bookshop event and observed attendees.
The situation in Hong Kong brings to mind the experience of mainland China, where independent bookstores were once lively hubs for public discourse. K, a man in his 30s from Sichuan, remembers a period when liberal books and magazines were openly displayed and bookshops regularly hosted discussions. Around 2015, he observed a gradual tightening, initially targeting books about national leaders, but eventually affecting less obviously sensitive materials and leading to fewer public events.
Harassment extends to other cities as well. A friend of Zhu's who runs a bookshop in Guangzhou reported occasional police visits and even power cutoffs during film screenings organized by the bookshop. The trend suggests a broader effort to control the flow of information and limit spaces for public dissent across Chinese territories.