Hong Kong national security police arrested five booksellers on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, on suspicion of displaying and selling seditious publications. The operation, the third targeting independent shops in four months, followed a customs interception of overseas shipments. Authorities maintain that booksellers bear legal responsibility for ensuring their inventory does not violate national security laws.
Police Raids and Arrests in Mong Kok and Prince Edward
The police operation on Wednesday targeted two independent bookstores: Have A Nice Stay, located in the Prince Edward district, and the Greenfield Book Store in Mong Kok. According to the police, the five individuals arrested—two men aged 37 and 57, and three women aged 30 to 59—are suspected of doing an act with seditious intention
and selling publications that incite hatred against the city’s government, judiciary, and law enforcement agencies.
The investigation was initiated after the Customs and Excise Department intercepted a shipment of books arriving from overseas. Police confirmed that a batch of books with seditious intention was seized from the shops
during the subsequent raids. These arrests mark a continuation of a broader crackdown on the city’s independent bookstore sector, which has faced increased pressure since the 2020 introduction of national security legislation.
For more on this story, see Hong Kong AV Actress Erena So Arrested for Promoting Gambling Site.
Security Secretary Chris Tang on Legal Responsibility
Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung defended the police actions on Thursday, July 16, 2026, emphasizing that the burden of compliance rests with the retailers. Speaking at the legislative building, Tang likened the sale of books to the sale of food, stating that businesses must ensure their products are safe and legal.
“If you are a bookseller, you have the responsibility to make sure the books you sell won’t endanger national security. It’s equal to, for example, when you are selling food, you need to ensure the food won’t cause a stomach ache and is not either poison or illegal.”
This follows our earlier report, AV Actress Erena So Arrested for Promoting Illegal Gambling Site.
When asked by reporters if the government would provide a list of banned titles to clarify the rules, Tang rejected the idea. He argued that such a list would not be conducive to effective law enforcement targeting titles that intend to harm the country
. He reiterated that the government would not let criminals off the hook.
Industry Pressure and the Elusive Red Line
The bookstore ‘Have A Nice Stay’ had already publicly signaled its intent to close on August 30, 2026, citing financial difficulties and what its owners described as an elusive red line
regarding permissible content. The shop noted that it lacked the capacity to vet every book for potential legal issues, a challenge shared by other independent outlets that have historically hosted book talks and served as hubs for civil society.
Read also: HK Police Thank Shenzhen Police in Airport Gold Robbery Case.
This week’s enforcement is the latest in a series of similar actions. In March, authorities arrested staff at the Book Punch store, reportedly over the sale of a biography of Jimmy Lai, the imprisoned pro-democracy media tycoon. Another two booksellers were taken into custody in June 2026 on suspicions involving both seditious material and the alleged receipt of funds from foreign political organizations.
International and Regional Reaction
The arrests have drawn criticism from outside Hong Kong. Taiwan President Lai Ching-te commented on the situation via Facebook on Thursday, stating that independent bookstores are vital for safeguarding thought
and that writing should not be stifled by political pressure.
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