Two long-standing independent bookstores in Hong Kong have announced their permanent closures just weeks after local national security police units carried out raids on their premises, marking the latest development in a sustained crackdown on independent bookselling outlets across the city. The operation earlier this month targeted both Greenfield Book Store and Have A Nice Stay, leading to the arrest of five individuals who face accusations of displaying and distributing materials deemed to carry “seditious intent” under local security regulations.
Founded in 1976, Greenfield Book Store has been a cornerstone of Hong Kong’s independent literary community for half a century. In a brief statement posted to social media Wednesday, the bookstore announced it would wind down operations once its current rental lease expires. “Grateful to everyone for being with us through thick and thin for the past 50 years, thank you, take care,” the post read, offering no additional context or details about the decision beyond the impact of the recent police search.
For the second targeted outlet, Have A Nice Stay – a shop operated by a group of former journalists – the end came far sooner than planned. An AFP reporter visiting the store’s location Wednesday confirmed a handwritten closure notice posted outside the entrance, announcing an immediate end to all operations. “As of today, Have a Nice Stay will cease operation temporarily,” the sign read, adding that the team would contact customers who placed pre-orders for online books with further updates on refunds or unfulfilled orders.
Notably, Have A Nice Stay had already signaled its planned exit from the market earlier this year, announcing a planned closure in August. At that time, the owners cited multiple challenges including the broader social environment in Hong Kong, persistent financial strain, and the difficulty of operating alongside what they described as “the elusive red line” of acceptable content under national security regulations. The early police raid pushed the shop to shut its doors months ahead of that already announced timeline.
The closures come amid a expanding enforcement of national security rules for booksellers in Hong Kong. Current regulations stem from two pieces of legislation: a broad national security law imposed by Beijing in 2020 following large-scale pro-democracy protests across the city, and a local version of the security law passed by Hong Kong officials in 2024 that expanded powers to crack down on materials deemed a threat to national stability. Following this month’s raids, Hong Kong’s Secretary for Security Chris Tang publicly reminded booksellers of their legal obligation to vet all stock and ensure “do not endanger national security.”