Hong Kong’s independent bookstores, a refuge for Chinese readers, are under threat
Summary
Independent bookstores in Hong Kong, known for offering books with ideas censored in mainland China, are facing pressure and closures. This comes after police arrested several booksellers under new security laws aimed at suppressing dissent in the city.Key Facts
- Hong Kong’s independent bookstores provide access to political books not allowed in mainland China.
- Chinese university student Fleming Cheng visited a Hong Kong bookstore to read books critical of China’s government.
- Four bookstores including Greenfield were targeted by police under a 2024 national security law.
- Greenfield Bookstore announced it would close after its lease ended.
- Another bookstore, Have A Nice Stay, planned to close due to financial difficulties and legal risks.
- Hong Kong’s freedoms have been decreasing since Beijing introduced a national security law in 2020.
- The authorities say the laws ensure stability in Hong Kong.
- The 2015 disappearance of bookseller Lam Wing-kee highlighted long-standing pressure on politically sensitive bookstores.
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