Hong Kong Police Arrest Booksellers On Suspicion Of Selling Seditious Publications

HONG KONG — Hong Kong constabulary arrested 2 group Wednesday connected suspicion of trading seditious publications and receiving costs from overseas governmental organizations, acting nether a caller nationalist information law.

The government’s connection early Thursday did not place those arrested. But section media outlets, including nan Chinese-language newspaper Ming Pao, quoted unidentified sources saying 1 was Hunter Bookstore’s proprietor Leticia Wong.

Wong, a pro-democracy erstwhile territory councilor, has remained outspoken aft galore starring activists were jailed nether a crackdown pursuing monolithic anti-government protests successful 2019. If confirmed, her apprehension would beryllium wide seen arsenic nan latest measurement to stifle dissent successful nan Asian financial hub.

The Associated Press could not independently verify nan identities of those arrested. Police did not instantly respond to emailed questions. Wong could not beryllium reached by phone.

Wednesday’s arrests occurred a week earlier nan 29th day of nan erstwhile British colony’s return to Chinese rule. Critics opportunity Beijing’s committedness to let nan metropolis to support its Western-style civilian liberties aft nan 1997 handover is progressively threadbare.

According to Thursday’s statement, nan 2 arrested are successful complaint of a shop successful Sham Shui Po district, wherever Wong’s bookstore is located. They were detained connected suspicion of sedition nether nan 2024 nationalist information rule and of dealing pinch assets known aliases believed to correspond proceeds of indictable discourtesy nether a abstracted law.

Last year, a pro-Beijing newspaper’s study accused an independent book adjacent held astatine Wong’s bookstore of having connotations of “soft resistance.” It highlighted nan bookstore’s scheme to waste a curriculum vitae of jailed pro-democracy activistic Jimmy Lai.

Police investigations showed that nan brace are suspected of displaying seditious items and trading publications pinch seditious contented wrong nan shop, including materials inciting hatred against nan city’s government, nan judiciary and rule enforcement agencies, nan authorities said. They are besides suspected of having received remittances funded by overseas governmental organizations, it added.

The connection did not specify which publications aliases organizations were involved.

Wong antecedently said she felt pressure.

In an question and reply pinch AP past year, she said her records show authorities authorities took measures against her shop 92 times betwixt July 2022 and June 2025, including inspecting her shop, conspicuously operating extracurricular aliases sending letters informing her of violations. An anonymous missive sent to an statement that had planned an arena astatine her shop prompted them to cancel nan booking, she added.

In March, constabulary arrested nan proprietor and unit of different bookstore, reportedly connected suspicion of trading seditious publications, including nan curriculum vitae of Lai. The booksellers were later released connected bail.

The Hong Kong authorities insists nan 2 information laws are important for nan city’s stability, saying state of reside is firmly protected successful nan city.