Overview
- Police from the National Security Department searched Have A Nice Stay and Greenfield Book Store on Wednesday after Hong Kong customs referred a consignment of books they said contained material with alleged seditious intent.
- Officers detained two men and three women on suspicion of displaying and selling publications that police said incited hatred of the government, judiciary and law enforcement; the alleged offence can carry up to seven years in prison.
- Reports identified bookstore co‑founders Sum Wan‑wah and Mandy Lau of Have A Nice Stay among those taken into custody, and media footage showed boxes of books and materials removed from the shops.
- Human rights and press‑freedom groups called the raids a further blow to free expression and said the vague line on what counts as unlawful material is driving closures, self‑censorship and loss of public debate spaces.
- The July raids are the third targeted action this year following Book Punch in March and Hunter Bookstore in June, and Hong Kong officials have warned booksellers to vet titles or face continuing enforcement that could further shrink the independent publishing scene.