How an escalating crackdown on Hong Kong’s independent bookstores put Taiwan publishers in the spotlight

On a sweltering August day in Hong Kong, the independent bookstore Have a Nice Stay locked its doors, leaving customers bewildered. The bookstore had announced its closure in July due to financial difficulties and unclear political restrictions. However, within days, staff members were arrested under the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, also known as Article 23, for alleged sedition.

This incident was not an isolated case; Greenfield Bookstore and Elmbook, two other independent bookshops, also announced their closures. In total, four bookstores saw their staff arrested in 2026 alone.

The series of events has brought attention to the intricate relationship between Hong Kong bookstores and Taiwanese publishers. The crackdown has reignited concerns about the future of the city's independent bookshops. In particular, Elmtree and Luck Win, two long-standing retailers with decades of history, were unexpectedly targeted. This arrest came amidst the bar from the annual Hong Kong Book Fair earlier in the year, further exacerbating the challenges faced by independent bookshops.

The recent crackdown originated from Customs intercepting "a batch of books with seditious intention" from overseas, allegedly shipped from Taiwan. The books included "Let Only Red Flowers Bloom: Identity and Belonging in Xi Jinping’s China," which features interviews with persecuted groups like Uyghurs and ethnic Mongolians, as well as Hong Kong protesters in exile.

This development highlights the increasing scrutiny faced by Hong Kong bookstores, which heavily rely on books published in Taiwan, the world's largest publisher of traditional Chinese books. As Hong Kong is a free port, no taxes are imposed on these imports, making them an attractive option for local bookstores.