Hong Kong Police Arrest Five in Independent Bookstore Raids

Hong Kong police raided two independent bookstores in the Mong Kok district on July 16, 2026, arresting five people—two men and three women—on suspicion of breaching the 2024 Safeguarding National Security Ordinance. The targets, Greenfield Book Store and Have A Nice Stay, were searched for publications that authorities claim incite hatred against the government, judiciary, and law enforcement. The raids specifically targeted a Chinese-language version of "Let Only Red Flowers Bloom: Identity and Belonging in Xi Jinping's China," published in Taiwan.

This operation marks the third round of bookstore-related arrests since March. Secretary for Security Chris Tang defended the crackdown, stating that booksellers have a responsibility to ensure their titles do not endanger national security, though he refused to provide a list of banned books. Have A Nice Stay, founded by former journalists, had already announced it would close on August 30, citing financial difficulties and an elusive red line.

Lai Ching-te, President of Taiwan, expressed solidarity with the bookstore owners and stated that the freedoms of reading, publication, and speech are under continued and grave pressure. He noted that the current environment in Hong Kong recalls Taiwan's own history of martial law and censorship. Amnesty International Asia characterized the arrests as a weaponization of the national security framework to silence dissent.