Hong Kong independent bookstores face police raids and looming closures

Hong Kong’s independent bookshops, known for carrying titles deemed sensitive by mainland authorities, have come under intensified police scrutiny. On 24 June, officers entered Hunter Bookstore, charging owner Letitia Wong, 33, and a 32-year-old man with sedition and money-laundering, though they deny the accusations and have been released on bail. Earlier raids at Book Punch and later searches at Greenfield Bookstore and Have a Nice Stay also led to arrests for similar offenses, with those detained also granted bail.

Greenfield announced it will cease operations after its lease runs out, reflecting growing pressure on such venues. The crackdown follows a broader trend of arrests and convictions under Hong Kong’s national security law, which critics say stifles free expression. Mainland visitors like Chen Zhu and Li continue to travel to the city seeking books and a sense of community that they feel is lacking at home, even as the environment becomes increasingly restrictive.