Hong Kong police arrested five individuals on suspicion of distributing and displaying "seditious" books that allegedly incited hatred against the city's government, judiciary, and law enforcement agencies. The arrests followed raids on two independent bookstores.
Authorities stated that the seized publications violated national security legislation. The arrested individuals, comprising two men aged 37 and 57 and three women between 30 and 59, are currently being held for investigation. Conviction could lead to a maximum of seven years in prison.
Police did not disclose the names of the targeted businesses. However, reporters observed officers escorting a woman from the Have A Nice Stay bookshop. This shop, founded in 2022 by former journalists, stocked literature on democracy, authoritarianism, and media literacy. The raid occurred a day after the bookstore announced it would close in August, citing financial difficulties and uncertainty over what material might violate regulations.
The nearby Greenfield Book Store was also reportedly targeted. Its Facebook page indicates it carries books from Hong Kong and Taiwan covering literature, history, philosophy, art, sociology, and self-improvement. Neither bookstore is participating in the Hong Kong Book Fair, which commenced this week.
This is not the first instance of authorities raiding bookstores under national security laws. In 2023, two workers were arrested at the Hunter store in June, and four individuals were arrested from Book Punch in March.
Amnesty International commented that the raids demonstrate how Hong Kong has become a place where individuals can be criminalized for the content of their books. The organization noted that the ambiguity surrounding "red lines" forces booksellers and writers into a state of constant guessing, leading to fear and self-censorship.