Two booksellers at Hong Kong’s annual book fair have said they were forced to stop selling eight titles deemed “sensitive” by organisers, even though they had sold copies of the books last year without any issue.
The exhibitors pulled the titles to ensure the safety of their staff, but accused the Hong Kong Trade Development Council on Sunday of not giving clear answers on whether the books were in breach of a Beijing-imposed national security law, as well the city’s complementary domestic national security law enacted in March this year.
Leslie Ng Chi-ching of Bbluesky Publishing said the council had asked him on Saturday to remove five titles from the shelves of his booth, including two by former opposition lawmaker Shiu Ka-chun and three by veteran journalist Allan Au Ka-lu.
“They only told me that I might have violated the exhibitor’s manual by selling the books, which had received complaints. But they neither told me which clauses of the manual I disobeyed nor explained why the books were sensitive,” he said.
Ng added he had been warned by the council about the books a day before the fair started on Wednesday after selling two copies at last year’s fair without any objections.
“But for the safety of my staff, I have no choice but to stop selling four of them,” he said.
However, he insisted on keeping one of the books by Au on shelves as it was “merely about travel in Hong Kong”.
“These books are freely sold elsewhere in the market without any issue, so why do problems arise only at the book fair? This has left many booksellers baffled because no one knows where exactly the council’s redline lies,” Ng lamented.
Another exhibitor, Boundary Bookstore, was also asked to remove three titles, including a new book written by Au on journalistic ethics, which the organisers said it had received complaints about. Another was a novel by poet Liu Wai-tong which touched on social movements.
Leanne Liu, the store’s publishing manager, said she had asked whether the council could provide any “legal document” to explain why the books could not be sold.
“I asked for it so I could alert readers looking for the books,” she explained. “The council agreed but I have yet to receive it.”
She had also asked the council to provide details of the complaints, why it had ruled them to valid and why the titles were deemed “sensitive”. But the council had only highlighted its “absolute and sole decision-making power” in running the exhibition, Liu said.
In the end, she complied with the organisers’ orders, saying: “we are just a small bookstore and are worried they could shut us down. We have no choice but to listen and comply.”
In response to media inquiries, the Trade Development Council stressed all participants had to comply with the exhibitor’s manual as well as the city’s national security laws, among other legislation.
“If a complaint is received about a suspected violation of the exhibitors’ manual, rules and regulations, we will handle the matter in accordance with procedures. Where necessary, we will ask the exhibitor to cease displaying and selling the respective items,” a council spokesman said, without explaining why it had asked for the eight titles to be removed.
Shiu, whose book centres on visits to prisons, said on social media that the council’s actions would hurt the credibility and legitimacy of the book fair.
A 57-year-old housewife, who went to the book fair on Sunday and only gave her surname as Cheung, said it was “ironic” that the council had practiced “self-censorship” when the government had not prohibited sales of the books.
“The council claims that the book fair is an event for the publishing industry and book lovers, yet it restricts their choices while contradicting the government’s assertion that Hong Kong has freedom of the press and publication,” she said.
The book fair, taking place alongside the Sports and Leisure Expo and the World of Snacks held at the Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai, was packed with visitors on Sunday, some with suitcases in tow to carry their purchases.
But a few exhibitors were not optimistic about sales performances this year.
Gary Fung Ka-wai, owner of iGlobe Publishing, which specialises in travel guides, estimated sales would drop by 15 per cent compared to last year, even though one of its new books on Shenzhen priced at HK$100 (US$13) had been quickly snapped up.
“We sold about 400 copies in the first five days. I think spending across the border has become a part of people’s lives as many readers asked for books about food and recreation in Shenzhen,” Fung said.
Lai Yiu-Keung, director and deputy editor-in-chief of Chung Hwa Book, also expected sales would decrease by more than 10 per cent due to lower attendance at the fair caused by the rainy weather.
“It is very apparent that the footfall is less than last year, especially visitors from mainland China,” he said. “People queuing up to pay are only holding a book or two, compared to the average of five to six last year.”
