Exhibitors at Hong Kong’s upcoming annual book fair should comply with the Beijing-imposed national security law and the city’s homegrown security law, the event’s organiser has said.
The fair, hosted by statutory body the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), will be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from July 17 until July 23. It is the first book fair to be held since the domestic security law, known colloquially as Article 23, came into effect in March.
Sophia Chong, the deputy executive director of the HKTDC, said during a media preview for the fair on Tuesday that the event had always been an important platform for publishers’ to promote and sell their products, InMedia reported.
As the organiser, HKTDC bore a responsibility to remind all exhibitors to obey Hong Kong laws, including the national security law and Article 23, Chong said.
When asked by reporters whether HKTDC has “a list of banned titles” that would be censored, Chong did not respond directly. She stated again that exhibitors should comply with local laws and that all exhibitors understood that requirement.
The theme of this year’s fair is Film and Television Literature, showcasing original novels and screenwriters, as well as works of renowned film directors.
The HKTDC is also hosting the Sports and Leisure Expo and the World of Snacks concurrently with the book fair. A total of 760 exhibitors will join the three fairs, the organiser said.
Independent publishers banned
Founded in 1990, the annual book fair has seen censorship since the enactment of Beijing’s national security law in 2020.
In 2022, HKTDC turned down applications from at least three independent booksellers, Hillway Press, One of a Kind, and Humming Publishing, all of which had published books with the 2019 pro-democracy protests and unrest as their theme.
Hillway Press and One of a Kind, along with several other independent publishers, attempted to host an independent book fair that year, but were blocked by the venue owner.
In 2023, Leticia Wong, owner of the independent Hunter Bookstore hosted an independent book market, which invited firms excluded from the 2022 HKTDC book fair to participate, along with other publishers.
However, Wong expressed doubt there would be another “indie” event after the four-day book market wound up, saying in a Facebook post she had even feared arrest.
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