Two exhibitors at the Hong Kong Book Fair are being asked by the organisers to stop selling “sensitive” titles

“They just told me that I might have violated the exhibitor’s manual by selling the books that were being complained about. But they didn’t tell me which clauses of the manual I had violated, nor did they explain to me why the books were sensitive,” he said.

Ng added that he was warned about the books by the city council a day before the fair began on Wednesday, after he sold two copies at last year’s fair without objection.

“But for the safety of my employees, I have no choice but to stop selling four of them,” he said.

However, he insisted on keeping one of Au’s books on the shelf because it was “just about traveling in Hong Kong.”

“Elsewhere in the market, these books are sold without any problems. So why are there only problems at the book fair? Many booksellers are at a loss because no one knows exactly where the Council’s red line lies,” complained Ng.

Another exhibitor, Boundary Bookstore, was also asked to remove three titles from its inventory. Among them was a new book by Au on journalistic ethics, which organizers said had received complaints about. Another book was a novel by poet Liu Wai-tong that dealt with social movements.

Leanne Liu, the store’s publishing director, said she asked if the city council could provide any “legal document” explaining why the books should not be sold.

“I asked for it so I could bring it to the attention of readers looking for the books,” she explained. “The council has agreed, but I haven’t received it yet.”

She had also asked the council to provide details of the complaints, why it had found them justified and why the titles were classified as “sensitive”. However, the council had only stressed its “absolute and sole decision-making power” in holding the exhibition, Liu said.

In the end, she followed the organizers’ instructions and said: “We are just a small bookstore and we are afraid that they might close us. We have no choice but to listen and give in.”

In response to media inquiries, the Trade Development Council stressed that all participants must comply with the exhibitor manual and the city’s national security laws, among others.

“If a complaint is received about an alleged violation of the Exhibitor Handbook and the Rules and Regulations, we will deal with the matter in accordance with procedures. Where appropriate, we will ask the exhibitor to stop displaying and selling the items in question,” a council spokesman said, without explaining why he had requested the removal of the eight titles.

Shiu, whose book is about prison visits, said on social media that the council’s actions would damage the credibility and legitimacy of the book fair.

A 57-year-old housewife who attended the book fair on Sunday and gave only her surname as Cheung said it was “ironic” that the council had practiced “self-censorship” even though the government had not banned the sale of the books.

“The council claims that the book fair is an event for the publishing industry and book lovers, but restricts their choices and contradicts the government’s claim that there is freedom of the press and freedom of publication in Hong Kong,” she said.

The book fair, which ran alongside the Sports and Leisure Expo and the World of Snacks at the Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai, was packed on Sunday, with some carrying suitcases full of their purchases.

However, some exhibitors were not optimistic about this year’s sales development.

Gary Fung Ka-wai, owner of travel guide publisher iGlobe Publishing, estimates sales would fall 15 percent from last year, even though one of his new books on Shenzhen, priced at HK$100 (US$13), sold out quickly.

“We sold about 400 copies in the first five days. I think shopping abroad has become a part of people’s lives, as many readers have asked for books about food and leisure in Shenzhen,” Fung said.

Lai Yiu-Keung, director and deputy editor-in-chief of Chung Hwa Book, also expected a drop in sales of more than 10 percent due to the lower number of visitors to the fair because of the rainy weather.

“It is quite obvious that there are fewer visitors than last year, especially visitors from mainland China,” he said. “People waiting in line to pay are only holding one or two books, compared to an average of five to six last year.”