On Wednesday, Hong Kong police conducted a raid on independent bookstores founded by former media workers, arresting five people on suspicion of displaying and selling items with 'seditious intent.'
Police escorted a handcuffed woman onto a police vehicle and moved multiple boxes of books and related items out from the “Stay Behind Bookstore.”
The arrested female staff member was wearing a black T-shirt with the words “I am a bookstore clerk” on the chest. Her composed, fearless demeanor as she walked with her head held high sparked widespread discussion on social media.
Police stated that the National Security Department had received a report alleging that a batch of books sent to Hong Kong from overseas contained publications with seditious intent, prompting searches of two bookstores. The other bookstore searched is “Field Garden Bookstore.”
According to the “Safeguarding National Security Ordinance” implemented in Hong Kong in 2024 (commonly known as Article 23 of the Basic Law legislation), the maximum penalty for related offenses is seven years in prison.
This marks the third police search of independent bookstores in Hong Kong this year.
Last month, two managers of “Hunter Bookstore” were arrested by police; in March, four employees of “One Punch Bookstore” were also arrested for selling publications alleged to have 'seditious intent.'