On July 15, 2026, in Hong Kong’s Mong Kok district, authorities conducted raids on two bookstores and arrested five individuals for allegedly selling seditious materials, as reported by local media. This action is part of ongoing efforts to target independent booksellers.
Videos and photographs from various media sources captured scenes of police officers, clearly identifiable by their vests marked “Police,” confiscating boxes from the premises of Have A Nice Stay, a bookshop established by former journalists. One bookseller was notably taken into custody.
Nearby, Greenfield Book Store experienced a similar situation, with officers removing boxes from the premises. According to a video by The Collective, these actions were part of a coordinated operation.
Official police statements confirmed that they executed raids on two shops in Mong Kok, although the specific names were not disclosed. Two men and three women were arrested under suspicion of violating the 2024 national security law. This marks the third series of arrests connected to independent bookstores, following similar actions in March and June that were perceived to suppress dissent in Hong Kong.
The investigation revealed that the detained individuals allegedly displayed and sold materials inciting hatred against Hong Kong’s government, judicial system, and law enforcement. Customs officials discovered the concerning publications within a shipment of goods arriving from overseas, though they did not disclose specific titles.
On the day of the raids, Have A Nice Stay and Greenfield Book Store remained closed during their regular business hours. Attempts to contact representatives of Greenfield and the founder of Have A Nice Stay went unanswered.
The bookshop Have A Nice Stay had previously announced plans to close its doors on August 30, citing financial struggles and elusive guidelines as contributing factors on social media.
Historically, Hong Kong was recognized for its liberal stance on publication and expression. Notably, Chinese nationals would cross the border into Hong Kong seeking politically sensitive books unavailable in mainland China.
Lam Wing-kee, the former owner of Causeway Bay Books, gained international attention in 2016 when he revealed his detention by Chinese authorities upon crossing from Hong Kong to Shenzhen. The disappearance of four other individuals associated with Causeway Bay Books in 2015 further fueled concerns. Lam’s story resonated deeply in Hong Kong, which was promised the preservation of its Western-style liberties for 50 years following the handover to China in 1997.
Since political shifts after the 2019 protests, independent bookstores face increasingly difficult conditions. Officials assert that national security laws are essential for maintaining the city’s tranquility.
Hong Kong’s Secretary for Security, Chris Tang, remarked that an official list of banned books would be impractical to enforce.
Earlier this year, police detained Book Punch store owner and staff under suspicion of distributing seditious works, including the biography of pro-democracy media figure Jimmy Lai, who faced a 20-year prison sentence amid his national security trial.
Further in June, authorities arrested two booksellers on charges related to selling seditious content and allegedly receiving foreign political funds. These individuals were released on bail subsequently.
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