Hong Kong national security police raid two Mong Kok bookstores, arrest five

Published Jul 23, 03:50 PM UTC

On July 15, Hong Kong national security police raided two independent bookstores in Mong Kok—Have a Nice Stay and Greenfield Bookstore—arresting five people on suspicion of selling seditious publications. The raids are part of a broader pattern targeting independent bookstores, following similar operations against Book Punch and Hunter Bookstore in March and June. These bookstores functioned as semi-civic spaces hosting discussions and community events, which became increasingly difficult after the 2020 National Security Law. The arrests were made under the 2024 Safeguarding National Security Ordinance. Have a Nice Stay had already announced its closure before the raid, citing uncertain red lines. The article argues this represents a qualitative shift in security police tactics, moving from targeting traditional activist groups to spaces fostering alternative Hong Kong identity. This crackdown is framed as part of Beijing's long-term integration of Hong Kong, including patriotic education reforms and cultural alignment with mainland China by 2047.