Hong Kong Bookstore Raids Spur 10,000-Copy Taiwan Reprint as 5 Arrests Ignite Outcry
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jul 23
Hong Kong Bookstore Raids Spur 10,000-Copy Taiwan Reprint as 5 Arrests Ignite Outcry
1 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jul 23
Summary
Acropolis Publishing ordered an emergency 10,000-copy reprint of Emily Feng’s book after Hong Kong police arrested five people in raids on two independent bookstores last week.
The raids targeted suspected “seditious” publications carrying penalties of up to 10 years, though authorities have not identified the books involved; reports that Feng’s title was among them triggered sellouts across Taipei.
Taiwanese support quickly coalesced around the slogan “I am a bookstore employee,” which spread on Threads and drew backing from booksellers, activists, lawmakers and President Lai Ching-te.
The arrests were the third involving people linked to Hong Kong independent bookstores in recent months, reinforcing Taiwan’s use of Hong Kong as a warning about Beijing-backed political control.
For many readers, the episode underscored Taiwan’s role as one of the last Chinese-speaking places where uncensored books remain openly available.
A Hong Kong book ban created a Taiwan bestseller. Can censorship ever truly succeed in the digital age?
When sedition is left undefined, does every bookshelf in Hong Kong become a potential crime scene?
As Hong Kong's leader gains power to label any crime a security threat, is its independent judiciary facing extinction?
July 2026 Hong Kong Bookstore Raids: Crackdown on Independent Publishing and the Erosion of Free Expression
Overview
On July 15, 2026, Hong Kong police raided independent bookstores Have A Nice Stay and Greenfield Book Store, arresting five staff members and shattering the city’s sense of security. The sudden crackdown centered on Emily Feng’s book, 'Let Only Red Flowers Bloom: Identity and Belonging in the Xi Jinping Era,' which authorities appeared to view as problematic. This marked a major escalation in the ongoing suppression of freedom of expression, sending shockwaves through the community. The raids highlighted how quickly the environment for booksellers and readers in Hong Kong has become uncertain and fearful.