Hong Kong booksellers face crackdown amid national security law and book fair controversy

Hong Kong’s Secretary for Security, Chris Tang, warned booksellers and publishers to ensure that titles do not endanger national security, saying non‑compliance could lead to legal consequences under the 2020 National Security Law and the 2024 Article 23 ordinance.

The warning follows a series of arrests of independent bookstore operators for alleged sedition and the exclusion of long‑running booksellers from the annual Hong Kong Book Fair. Booths previously assigned to Elmbook and Luck Win were turned into reading areas, several titles—including a poetry collection by Tang Siu‑wa and a novel by John Chan—were barred from sale, and five operators were detained during the fair. Elmbook announced the closure of its 29‑year‑old Mong Kok store.

Security minister Chris Tang visited the fair, publicly purchasing books by Xi Jinping and other titles, highlighting the government’s emphasis on compliance with the security legislation.