Bookstores have long served as places where ideas quietly meet their readers. Behind rows of carefully arranged shelves, conversations often begin without a single spoken word. In Hong Kong, however, two independent bookstores recently became the focus of a national security investigation, drawing renewed attention to the territory's evolving legal environment and the continuing debate surrounding freedom of expression.

Hong Kong police arrested five people after conducting raids on two independent bookstores, Have A Nice Stay and Greenfield Book Store, in the Mong Kok and Prince Edward districts. Authorities said the three women and two men were suspected of "doing an act with seditious intention" under Hong Kong's national security legislation.

According to police, the investigation began after customs officials intercepted an overseas shipment containing books alleged to have seditious content. Officers later searched both bookstores and seized publications they said promoted hatred toward the Hong Kong government, judiciary, and law enforcement agencies.

The operation marked the third police action targeting independent bookstores in Hong Kong during 2026. One of the bookstores, Have A Nice Stay, had announced only a day earlier that it planned to close, citing financial difficulties and uncertainty over what publications could legally be sold under current regulations.

Hong Kong officials defended the enforcement action, stating that booksellers have a responsibility to ensure the materials they distribute comply with national security laws. Security Secretary Chris Tang said businesses should exercise the same level of care with publications as retailers do with product safety in other industries.

Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, criticized the arrests, arguing that the use of sedition laws against booksellers could discourage the peaceful exchange of ideas and contribute to greater self-censorship within Hong Kong's publishing community. Amnesty called on authorities to stop using national security legislation to criminalize peaceful publishing activities.

Hong Kong's independent bookstores have faced increasing pressure since Beijing introduced the National Security Law in 2020, followed by additional domestic national security legislation in 2024. Many stores specializing in political, historical, and social affairs publications have reduced operations or closed amid legal uncertainty.

The investigation remains ongoing, and no court has yet determined the outcome of the allegations against those arrested. As legal proceedings continue, the case has once again placed Hong Kong's independent publishing sector under international attention while highlighting the continuing balance authorities say they seek between national security and the application of the law.

AI Image Disclaimer: The illustrations accompanying this article were generated using artificial intelligence to visually represent the reported events and should not be regarded as authentic photographs.

Sources (verified):

Reuters Associated Press (AP) South China Morning Post Deutsche Welle (DW) Amnesty International