Hong Kong national security police have arrested the owners of an independent bookshop for alleged sedition and money laundering.
Officers searched Hunter Bookstore in Sham Shui Po on Wednesday and arrested the owners, former district councillor of the now-disbanded Civic Party Leticia Wong Man‑huen, 33, and a 32-year-old local man.
They were detained on suspicion of committing acts with seditious intent and laundering money in breach of the Organised and Serious Crimes Ordinance, according to the force.
Officers seized a batch of items, books and documents said to carry seditious intent.
Police alleged the two suspects sold and displayed publications with inflammatory content and organised talks and sharing sessions targeting young people and students, inciting hatred against the government, judiciary and law enforcement agencies.
The pair were also accused of having received multiple remittances funded by foreign political organisations.
Last July, the shop hosted a book fair, bringing together local independent publishers and bookstores. Pro‑Beijing media later criticised the event for featuring anti‑government books and inviting opposition figures such as Margaret Ng Ngoi-yee and cartoonist Zunzi to attend.
The shop also sold titles such as a biography of jailed former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee‑ying and works by Zunzi.
Two years ago, before June 4, the store drew attention by selling candles for HK$6.40 (US$0.80) and displaying signs reading “35/5”, widely seen as references to the 35th anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown.
Police officers stood outside for about an hour checking shoppers’ identity cards. -- SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
