Hong Kong

Hong Kong Police Arrest Five in Raids on Bookstores

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By Howard Chang/John Van Trieste

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Hong Kong police have arrested five people in raids on a pair of bookstores. The accused face possible charges of displaying and selling "seditious" material, which could bring a maximum sentence of seven years in prison. This is the third time Hong Kong police have raided independent booksellers this year. Human rights groups and Taiwan's president Lai Ching-te have criticized the arrests as a crackdown on freedom of expression.

Hong Kong Bookstores Raided

 

REPORTER:  

Hong Kong police on Wednesday raided two bookstores and arrested five employees for selling “seditious” content.

 

One of the bookshops was run by former journalists. Under Hong Kong’s 2024 national security law, the booksellers could receive up to seven years in prison if convicted. The raids were the third on Hong Kong’s independent booksellers this year. Human rights groups protested the actions as a crackdown on free thinking. Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te also expressed concern, saying thought and writing shouldn’t be subject to political repression.