More “sensitive” titles removed from the Hong Kong Book Fair

An exhibitor at the 2024 Hong Kong Book Fair was advised to remove five titles from its shelves due to complaints and “sensitive” content.

Independent local publisher Bbluesky was informed that the books would be removed at around 5.30pm on Saturday, publishing director Leslie Ng told reporters at the fair on Saturday evening.

Ng said staff at the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), which organises the annual Hong Kong Book Fair, told him they had received complaints and pointed out “sensitive” content, but did not give examples of the nature of the complaints.

Bbluesky took four of the titles off the shelves, but left the one by experienced journalist Allan Au turbulenceand stated that the book did not contain any sensitive content.

“We don’t know where the line is. (The HKTDC’s reasons) were complaints and sensitive content, but these things are difficult to understand,” Ng said. “If the line is clear and you tell us that these particular titles are illegal, I believe the cinema operators would remove them immediately.”

HKFP has contacted the HKTDC for comment.

“Sensitive” titles

Three of the five books are by Au: turbulencea travelogue; The last faithwhich deals with media ethics; and 2047 nightsa collection of essays. The other two are by convicted former pro-democracy lawmaker Shiu Ka-chun. Both describe his time in prison five years ago.

See also: Independent book fair in Hong Kong offers publishers ‘safe space’ even as government inspections raise uncertainty about event

Au was arrested in 2022 for allegedly publishing seditious materials but released without charge. Shiu was sentenced to eight months in prison in April 2019 for causing public nuisance in connection with protests in 2014.

Ng said HKTDC staff had not outlined any consequences for not following their advice. He added that there had been no event-wide request to withdraw specific titles, adding that he expected the statutory trade body to handle complaints on a case-by-case basis.

“The conditions are not sufficient to make a judgment,” Ng said, adding that he was concerned that Bbluesky would not be allowed to participate in the fair next year.

Ng also said that HKTDC staff told Bbluesky when setting up their booth before the opening of the event on Wednesday that Au’s turbulence and Shius Emotionology in prison were considered “sensitive”.

When asked if Bbluesky would preemptively remove titles that could be considered “sensitive,” Ng said he would not. “If we think it’s reasonable and doesn’t violate the law, we should go ahead.”

Legal advice

Separately, Boundary Bookstore – which had previously been advised to pull Au’s book on media ethics, a science fiction novel by Hong Kong poet Liu Wai-tong and a book about Hong Kong children who have emigrated from the city – was asked to pull another title. Boundary complied.

Boundary’s publishing director Leanne Liu told HKFP that the bookstore was instructed to remove the book by novelist Leung Lee-chi from its inventory. Exercise in everyday life from the shelves on Saturday, with HKTDC staff citing “legal advice”.

A reporter from HKFP noted that Au’s 2047 nights was sold at Boundary’s booth on Saturday, and Liu said the bookstore would not discontinue it.

Regarding its earlier request to Boundary to remove certain titles, the HKTDC told HKFP on Friday that it would handle any complaints about a suspected breach of the event rules “in accordance with procedures”. It would also request the exhibitor to stop displaying and selling the items in question “if necessary”.

At a press conference last month, the HKTDC did not directly respond to a question about whether it had a list of banned books. Deputy chief executive Sophia Chong said exhibitors must comply with local laws, including the national security law and the city’s domestic security laws, known locally as Article 23.

This year’s book fair, which runs until Tuesday, is the first since Article 23 came into force in March this year.

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