In brief
Hong Kong police raided the ‘Have A Nice Stay’ shop in Mong Kok and the Greenfield Book Store, detaining five individuals accused of selling seditious literature under the national security law. The books seized are said to have incited hatred against the territory’s government, judiciary or law‑enforcement. The raid comes after the Mong Kok shop announced its closure in August, citing financial problems and an unclear “red line” over permitted content. Amnesty International warned that such actions could criminalise ordinary book ownership, leading to self‑censorship among writers and booksellers.
Hong Kong police executed an operation that led to the arrest of five individuals believed to have sold or displayed books considered “seditious” under the territory’s national security law.
The victims were linked to two independent retailers: the ‘Have A Nice Stay’ shop in Mong Kok, which has been owned by a former journalist collective since 2022, and the Greenfield Book Store, reportedly targeted via a police raid the day after a March announcement that the former would closure in August. Both shops carried literature dealing with democracy, authoritarianism, media literacy and related subjects.
Authorities say the seized titles were deemed to “incite hatred” against the government, judiciary or police. The five suspects – two men aged 37 and 57, and three women aged 30 to 59 – are now held for investigation. Conviction could lead to up to seven years’ imprisonment.
Amnesty International condemned the raids, noting that “the chilling reality is that you can be criminalised simply for what’s on your bookshelf.” The organisation cites the lack of clear guidelines – the “red lines” – which has driven booksellers, writers and journalists to practise self‑censorship out of fear of legal repercussions.
Below is a photograph taken during the raid showing police officers loading confiscated items into a van.
