Hong Kong police arrest five over seditious books at bookstores

On July 15, Hong Kong's national security police raided two independent bookstores in Mong Kok – Nice Stay and Greenfield Bookstore – and arrested five people (three women and two men aged 30 to 59) on suspicion of selling seditious publications. The authorities said the material incited hatred against the local government and was investigated under the 2024 Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, an extension of the National Security Law imposed after 2020.

The arrests follow earlier police operations against other independent shops such as Book Punch and Hunter Bookstore, signaling a shift toward tighter enforcement against venues that host community events, discussions and other civic activities. The crackdown reflects the broader suppression of civil society spaces in Hong Kong.

The five detainees are being held for further investigation, and the incident has drawn attention to the narrowing space for independent cultural and political expression in the territory.