Hong Kong Libraries Pull Books for Review Under China’s Security Law
Public libraries have removed several books by pro-democracy figures from circulation, amplifying concerns that China’s sweeping national-security law for Hong Kong will be used to restrict political discussion in the city.
Two books by the activist Joshua Wong and one title by lawmaker Tanya Chan were among those listed as “under review” on the city’s online library catalog on Sunday. In a statement, a government spokeswoman confirmed that some books had been removed from circulation pending a review for compliance with the new security law.
“The book collection must comply with the law of Hong Kong,” said the spokeswoman, without stating how many books were affected. “While legal advice will be sought in the process of the review, the books will not be available for borrowing and reference in libraries,” she said.
Ms. Chan said the action undermined assurances by officials that the law would only affect a small minority of people.
“It’s affecting what books people can have access to,” Ms. Chan said in an interview. “It’s affecting each and every aspect of our people’s normal lives.”
The removal of the titles from city libraries comes amid concerns that authorities will censor political statements in publishing, the media and the internet. Passed by legislators in Beijing on Tuesday, the law criminalizes four categories of crimes, including secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign or external forces to endanger national security.
Since then, the Hong Kong government said a popular protest slogan, “Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times,” could violate the new law, and police have arrested a number of demonstrators carrying signs authorities allege refer to independence for the city. Across the city, businesses aligned with the pro-democracy movement have removed posters and other signs in support of the movement out of fear that their display could be considered illegal.
It isn’t clear, however, whether saying or displaying such slogans alone runs afoul of the law. Teresa Cheng, Hong Kong’s secretary of justice, said in interview excerpts released by the government on Saturday that courts will examine “not just the words, but the overall acts in context” when determining whether a defendant violated the new national-security law.
Censorship concerns in Hong Kong aren’t new. In contrast to mainland China, Hong Kong historically has had robust protections on free speech, and the city has been a haven for publishers and journalists. However, episodes such as the disappearance of several booksellers who sold titles in Hong Kong critical of China’s leaders have heightened anxieties that China is trying to import its style of social control into the city.
The books pulled from circulation at libraries in recent days include two books by Mr. Wong, the internationally known pro-democracy activist who is awaiting trial on charges related to last year’s protests. The titles are “I Am Not A Hero,” published in 2013, and “I Am Not a Child: Before and After Turning 18 Years Old,” published in 2015. The book by Ms. Chan under review is called “My Journeys for Food and Justice,” according to the library website.
In a Twitter post, Mr. Wong called the review one step away from a ban on the book. “The national security law also imposes a mainland-style censorship regime upon this international financial city,” he wrote. “Although my books are published years before Hong Kong’s anti-extradition movement, they are now prone to book censorship.”
Ms. Chan, a legislator with the pro-democracy Civic Party, said in an interview that she was surprised her book was placed under review. She described the book as a collection of articles containing observations about politics and travel from around mid-2012.
“I am really puzzled why my book needs to be removed from shelves and be reviewed after the passing of this national security law,” Ms. Chan said. “No problem has been raised by anyone over the last six years” about the book, she added.
Ms. Chan, who received a suspended sentence of eight months in prison for her role in pro-democracy protests that roiled the city in 2014, said the government owed an explanation for why certain books were being pulled and clarity about the review process. She said she is concerned about the effect of such a move on publishers.
“Especially for the books that haven’t been published, the publisher will consider whether they should publish these books now,” the lawmaker said.
Photo: The libraries removed several books by pro-democracy figures from circulation.
PHOTO: LIAU CHUNG-REN/ZUMA PRESS
