Hong Kong's independent bookstores are again blocked: from the "forbidden book window" to the business space continues to narrow

Hong Kong independent bookstores are experiencing a new round of survival pressure. The agency on August 30 that bookstores such as Greenfield, Book Punch, Hunter and Have A Nice Stay have been investigated or arrested by police in recent months, in some cases involving allegations of “incitement to publication”.

Unlike previously direct-named political groups, this round of pressure fell more on bookstore operations and publishing links. In July, police raided Have A Nice Stay and Greenfield and arrested five people; earlier, Book Punch and Hunter were also subjected to similar enforcement laws. Police said the relevant publications were suspected of inciting hatred against the Hong Kong government, judicial authorities or law enforcement agencies. The Hong Kong government also stressed that national security laws would not establish a “banned list” and bookmakers had a responsibility to judge whether the books sold endangered national security.

Image: Hong Kong's Greenfield Book Store appearance, taken July 15, 2026.AP Photo/Kanis Leung.

What really puts bookmakers under pressure is the vague boundaries of “self-judgment.” Bookmakers interviewed by Associated Press say they are increasingly struggling to determine which books such as Chinese politics, Six-Four, Democratic Movement or public affairs will be seen as touching the red line.

The latest report of August 30 further shows that independent bookstores are not only the local cultural space in Hong Kong, but also the function of connecting the Taiwan publishing market, overseas authors and continental readers.

The long-term impact of this change is more than just a handful of bookstores. Hong Kong’s past has had a special significance for Continental readers, with its publication, reading and discussion spaces different from the Continental censorship system. If bookstore operators actively reduce sensitive books due to criminal risk, rental pressure and blurred legal boundaries, the effect of censorship may extend from the law enforcement site to publishers, logistics dealers, tenants and bookstores themselves.

The Hong Kong government has insisted on laws aimed at safeguarding national security while safeguarding freedom of speech and publication. Critics argue that in the absence of a clear list of prohibitions, continued law enforcement will push bookmakers to take a broader self-censorship.