The exteriors of the Greenfield Book Store is seen in Mong Kok district, Hong Kong, on Wednesday, July 15 2026.
Kanis Leung/AP
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Kanis Leung/AP
HONG KONG — Authorities in Hong Kong conducted raids on two bookstores, leading to the arrest of five individuals accused of distributing materials deemed seditious, as reported by local media on Wednesday. This marks the latest action against independent booksellers.
Media images and videos depicted police officers, identified by “Police” vests, removing boxes from Have A Nice Stay, a bookstore established by journalists. A bookseller was also seen being detained.
Nearby, a similar operation was observed at Greenfield Book Store, where boxes were removed, as per footage from The Collective, an online news source.
The police later confirmed they had searched two stores in the Mong Kok district, though they did not specify names. They apprehended two men and three women, suspecting them of violating the 2024 national security law, according to their statement.
This event marks the third wave of arrests associated with independent bookstores, following similar incidents in March and June, which many viewed as efforts to suppress dissent in the city.
According to the latest police statement, the arrested individuals are suspected of displaying and selling seditious materials at their stores. The materials reportedly incite hatred against the government, judiciary, and law enforcement.
Police stated that customs officials alerted them after allegedly seditious books were found in a shipment from abroad, though they did not provide specific titles.
The bookstores were closed during regular hours on Wednesday, and attempts to contact Greenfield and a founder of Have A Nice Stay were unsuccessful.
The exteriors of the bookstore ‘Have A Nice Stay’ is seen in Prince Edward district, Hong Kong, Wednesday, July 15, 2026.
Kanis Leung/AP
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Kanis Leung/AP
Have A Nice Stay had previously announced plans to close on August 30, citing financial troubles and unclear regulations as contributing factors in a social media statement.
Hong Kong was once a hub for free speech and publication, attracting mainland Chinese residents seeking politically sensitive books.
Lam Wing-kee, who owned Causeway Bay Books until his recent death, gained international attention in 2016 for revealing his detention by Chinese authorities after crossing into Shenzhen. Four others linked to the bookstore vanished in late 2015.
Lam’s story disturbed many in Hong Kong, where Beijing had promised to uphold civil liberties for 50 years following the 1997 handover from Britain.
Since the political shifts following 2019’s anti-government protests, independent bookstores face increasingly difficult conditions.
Officials argue national security laws are vital for Hong Kong’s stability. Secretary for Security Chris Tang stated there would not be a list of banned books, as such enforcement would be impractical.
In March, police detained the owner and staff of Book Punch, an independent store, for allegedly selling seditious publications, including a biography of pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai, who received a 20-year sentence for national security violations.
In June, two booksellers were arrested for allegedly selling seditious materials and receiving funds from foreign political entities.
All arrested individuals were later granted bail.
