Hong Kong national security police have arrested five bookstore workers and raided two shops on suspicion of selling and displaying seditious publications. The operation included the seizure of boxes from Have A Nice Stay, a bookstore founded by former journalists. Witnesses observed officers leading a woman away in handcuffs during the raids.
The government stated that the arrests were made on suspected charges of doing an act with seditious intention and breaching the territory's national security laws. Police cited these violations after customs flagged seditious books that had been shipped from overseas.
This operation marks the third round of arrests targeting independent bookstores in four months, following the detention of other booksellers as part of a broad national security crackdown. In light of these actions, Hong Kong’s top security official has urged booksellers to ensure their titles do not harm national security.