HONG KONG (AP) 鈥� 鈥檚 top security official said Thursday that booksellers should ensure the titles they sell do not harm national security, a day after five people linked to two bookstores .
The police operation on Wednesday was the third round of arrests within four months. Critics have raised concerns over the city’s freedom of expression under what they called a unclear red line.
But Secretary for Security Chris Tang told reporters at the legislative building that the law is clear.
鈥淚f you are a bookseller, you have the responsibility to make sure the books you sell won’t endanger national security,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t’s equal to, for example, when you are selling food, you need to ensure the food won’t cause a stomach ache and is not either poison or illegal.鈥�
Asked if authorities would make a list of banned books, Tang said that would not be conducive to effective law enforcement targeting titles that 鈥渋ntend to harm the country.鈥�
鈥淲e will not let criminals off the hook like this,鈥� he said.
On Wednesday, police raided Have A Nice Stay, a bookshop founded by a group of former journalists, and the longstanding Greenfield Book Store. Police said the five people who were arrested were suspected of displaying seditious materials and selling seditious publications.
A police statement alleged that the content stirred up hatred against the city鈥檚 government, judiciary and law enforcement agencies.
Have A Nice Stay had already announced it would shut down on Aug. 30. In a social media post, it said financial difficulties and an elusive red line were among the factors.
It said it cannot read through every single book and lacks the ability to judge what books are 鈥減roblematic.鈥�
In March, police also and staff of the independent Book Punch store, reportedly on suspicion of selling seditious publications. They included the biography of former pro-democracy , who was sentenced to 20 years in prison in his national security case.
In June, Hong Kong police arrested two booksellers on suspicion of selling seditious publications and receiving funds from foreign political organizations.
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
