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A book launch event at an independent bookstore in Hong Kong was disrupted by a group of people who harassed participants and accused the writer of “poisoning” readers.
Pazu, a travel writer, said on Facebook on Friday night that he hosted an event for his new book at bookstore Have a Nice Stay earlier, and that a group of people came to the venue and caused a disturbance. They later went downstairs and harassed participants on their way in, he said.
Photos Pazu shared showed two men and four women, all wearing masks, holding up A4-size sheets of paper with Chinese slogans accusing him of “poisoning the readers.”
The writer, who often comments on current affairs, was introducing his new book at the Mong Kok bookstore on Friday. Released in early November, his new title is a reflection of his travel experiences.
The bookstore said on its Facebook page on Friday night that the book launch was a private event, open only to those who had registered. However, at least five people who had not registered arrived and harassed Pazu.
After the group of people left, they still lingered downstairs and refused to leave, the bookstore wrote.
“At the end, we had no choice but to call the police, hoping police will protect the safety of small businesses in accordance with the law,” the bookstore’s Chinese post read.
In response to HKFP’s enquires, the police said the force received a report at 7.30pm on Friday. According to police, the person who made the report – who is in charge of a bookstore in Mong Kok – said one man and five women entered the bookstore as a private sharing event was being hosted. They refused to leave.
The six people immediately left the scene once officers arrived, the police added. The case was classified as a “dispute.”
In response to HKFP, Pazu said it was his first time being targeted by harassment.
“I think first it was journalists being harassed,” he said, referring to a large-scale intimidation campaign aimed at reporters that the Hong Kong Journalists Association drew attention to in September.
“Now, writers are being harassed too. Is it the case that in Hong Kong’s society, which is governed by the rule of law, even a travel book sharing and other cultural events would be the subject of harassment?” Pazu wrote.
Founded in 2022, Have a Nice Stay is run by former journalists, including those from defunct media outlet Stand News. In August, two former editor of the outlet were convicted of sedition.
Space for independent bookstores
Hong Kong’s independent bookstores have faced mounting pressure from authorities over the past two years.
According to reports from local media outlets, another independent bookshop, Hunter Bookstore, was inspected by staff at the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) in July during a book launch event.
The FEHD accused the bookstore of hosting a public event when it was not licensed to do so. However, it did not issue a fine.
Meanwhile, a series of titles showcased by independent bookstores and publishers in Hong Kong’s annual book fair were requested to be removed from shelves in July. The organiser, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), said it reminds exhibitors to obey the book fair’s regulations and national security laws.
“If a complaint is received about a suspected violation of the Exhibitors’ Manual and Rules & 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,” the HKTDC said.
Earlier in April, independent bookstore Mount Zero bid farewell to its readers. It cited a string of inspections by authorities following anonymous complaints in late 2023 as the reason for closing.
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