Hong Kong Independent Bookstores Face New Round of Pressure: From "Banned Book Window" to Shrinking Operating Space

Hong Kong Independent Bookstores Face New Round of Pressure: From "Banned Book Window" to Shrinking Operating Space

In recent months, several independent bookstores in Hong Kong have been investigated by the police or had their staff arrested. The ambiguous "incitement" red line has extended from law enforcement to leases, logistics, and self-censorship, further shrinking the space for Hong Kong to serve as a "banned book window" for mainland Chinese readers.

Hong Kong's independent bookstores are experiencing a new wave of survival pressure. According to an Associated Press report on August 30, bookstores such as Greenfield, Book Punch, Hunter, and Have A Nice Stay have been investigated by the police or had their staff arrested in recent months, with some cases involving allegations of "seditious publications." For many readers from mainland China, these bookstores have long been an important window for accessing publications on politics, history, and public issues.

Unlike in the past, when specific political groups were directly targeted, this round of pressure is focused more on the operational and publishing aspects of the bookstores. In July, the police raided Have A Nice Stay and Greenfield, detaining five people; earlier, Book Punch and Hunter had also faced similar law enforcement actions. The police claimed that the relevant publications were suspected of inciting hatred against the Hong Kong government, judicial organs, or law enforcement agencies. The Hong Kong government has emphasized that the national security law will not establish a "banned book list," and it is the responsibility of booksellers to judge whether the books they sell endanger national security.

Photo: The exterior of Greenfield Book Store in Hong Kong's Mong Kok district, taken on July 15,

1. AP Photo/Kanis Leung.

What is truly putting pressure on booksellers is the ambiguous boundary of "self-judgment." Booksellers interviewed by the Associated Press said they are finding it increasingly difficult to determine which books on Chinese politics, the June 4th incident, democratic movements, or public affairs will be deemed to have crossed the red line. Some stores are also facing uncertain leases, pressure from landlords, and requirements from shipping companies to submit complete book lists in advance.

The latest report on August 30 further shows that independent bookstores are not only cultural spaces for Hong Kong locals but also serve as a bridge between the Taiwanese publishing market, overseas authors, and mainland Chinese readers. Taiwanese publications on political and social issues are still in demand in Hong Kong, and many mainland tourists buy works that are difficult to obtain openly in mainland China during their visits to Hong Kong.

The long-term impact of these changes is not just the closure of a few bookstores. Hong Kong's significance to mainland Chinese readers lies in its unique publishing, reading, and discussion space, which differs from the mainland's censorship system. If bookstore operators reduce sensitive books due to criminal risks, lease pressure, and ambiguous legal boundaries, the censorship effect may extend from law enforcement to publishers, logistics companies, landlords, and bookstores themselves.

The Hong Kong government insists that the relevant laws aim to maintain national security while safeguarding freedom of speech and publication. Critics argue that, in the absence of a clear banned book list, continued law enforcement will drive booksellers to adopt broader self-censorship. For Hong Kong's independent publishing ecosystem, the real risk may not be that a particular book is explicitly prohibited, but that fewer and fewer people are willing to bear the consequences of selling it.