Hong Kong Book Fair Disqualifies 2 Independent Bookstores

(CNA Taipei, July 2nd) The annual Hong Kong Book Fair will be held in mid-July. According to Hong Kong media reports, independent bookstores Logos Book Store and Yu Lin Books, which have participated for many consecutive years, have had their exhibitor qualifications revoked by the organizer, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC).

In recent years, the Hong Kong Book Fair has repeatedly seen exhibitors asked to remove books from shelves or have their exhibitor qualifications revoked.

According to recent reports from Hong Kong media such as Ming Pao, Logos Book Store and Yu Lin Books are among the larger independent bookstores in Hong Kong. Logos Book Store was established in 1984 and currently has two branches in Mong Kok and Causeway Bay; Yu Lin Books was established in July 1997.

Regarding the revocation of their qualification to participate in the Hong Kong Book Fair, the person in charge of Logos Book Store in Mong Kok stated that it was inconvenient to comment at this time. A staff member at Yu Lin Books said they could not accept interviews.

In response to Ming Pao, the Hong Kong Book Fair organizer, HKTDC, stated that all exhibition matters are handled in accordance with the "Application Terms and Exhibition Rules" and that they do not comment on individual cases.

The report indicated that the pro-Beijing Wen Wei Po published an article during last year's book fair, labeling Logos Book Store as a "yellow-ribbon bookstore" (a bookstore supporting the democracy movement).

The report quoted Mr. Pao Chih-ming, president of Subculture, stating that Logos Book Store has participated since the first Hong Kong Book Fair, and Yu Lin Books has also exhibited for many years. He heard that the two bookstores applied for more exhibition space this year than in previous years and had already received goods from booksellers, yet were still refused exhibition, which he believes will cause the bookstores to lose their budget.

In recent years, the Hong Kong Book Fair has repeatedly seen books asked to be removed from shelves or independent publishers unable to exhibit. In 2025, publishers Blue Lullaby and Frontline Books were refused participation in the Hong Kong Book Fair.

At the time, Hong Kong media reported that Mr. Ng Chi-ching, the person in charge of Blue Lullaby, estimated that the refusal to participate in the book fair was related to the HKTDC's request in 2024 for him to remove books from shelves. The HKTDC at the time asked him to remove five books, and he removed four, but did not remove the book "Turbulence" by veteran journalist Ms. Ching Chi-ling.

This year's Hong Kong Book Fair will be held from the 15th to the 21st. (Edited by: Chen Kai-yu / Lu Jia-rong) 1150702

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