Hong Kong public libraries blocking borrowing of pro-democracy books: local reports

HONG KONG (Mainichi) -- Some publications by Hong Kong pro-democracy writers and activists have been banned from being taken out or looked at in the territory's Public Libraries, according to July 5 reports by local media.

The local government explained that the recently enacted Hong Kong national security law, which forbids the promotion of political concepts of independence or revolution, is behind the move, and more controls on freedom of speech are expected to begin soon. It is foreseen that published works will begin to be censored, and people connected to the industry have told the Mainichi Shimbun that they will have to consider doing their bookbinding overseas.

According to newspapers in Hong Kong, nine books have been banned from being removed from public libraries. They comprise two by pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong, one by Tanya Chan, a member of the pro-democracy faction of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong, and six works by Chin Wan, whose writing has pushed for Hong Kong to be completely self-governing.

Hong Kong's public libraries across the entire territory have about 380 copies of the nine books in question. When searched via the library's website, the books are listed as being "under checks," and it is not possible to look at them or borrow them.

A section of the Hong Kong government that deals with cultural matters told a local newspaper that Hong Kong Public Libraries must comply with Hong Kong's laws. It added that the books in question are being investigated to ascertain whether they contain illegal content.

The mainland-China affiliated Hong Kong newspaper Wenweipo wrote in its July 5 morning edition seeking a more stringent response from the authorities, saying, "There are still many 'Hong Kong independence' books on the libraries' shelves."

It's possible that censorship of published materials including books, newspapers and magazines will become more prevalent in the future. An individual connected to a company planning to publish a book about the 2019 anti-government demonstrations in Hong Kong told the Mainichi Shimbun that if its publication is blocked in China, the firm would look into printing it abroad.

(Japanese original by Shizuya Fukuoka, Hong Kong Bureau)