Hong Kong Independent Bookstores Close Amid Sedition Crackdown

Hong Kong authorities arrested booksellers from four independent bookstores—Book Punch, Hunter Bookstore, Greenfield, and Have A Nice Stay—between March and July 2026. The arrests were based on allegations of selling seditious publications under a 2024 national security law. These stores historically provided mainland Chinese readers access to political perspectives suppressed by Beijing.

Have a Nice Stay, founded by former journalists, officially closed its doors in the Kowloon district on August 30, 2026. The closure followed a July police raid and persistent financial deficits. The owners cited an uncertain social environment and elusive red lines, noting that government officials refused to specify which books were prohibited. Greenfield also announced its closure at the end of its lease following police targeting.

Secretary for Security Chris Tang defended the measures as vital for stability, stating that while no official banned book list exists, booksellers must ensure titles do not harm national security. The Government of Hong Kong maintains that its security laws protect human rights and freedom of speech. However, the crackdown has led some logistics firms to stop shipping books from Taiwan to stores under investigation, raising concerns about the city's remaining access to free Chinese-language publications.