PVLF 2025

3 Indie Publishers Barred from Hong Kong Book Fair 2025

Three indie publishers claim unjust exclusion from Hong Kong Book Fair 2025, citing censorship concerns and lack of explanation from event organizers.
on May 13, 2025

Three Hong Kong independent local publishers allege that they were banned from taking part in a government-sponsored annual book fair without giving any particular reasons.

Bbluesky, Boundary Bookstore, and another publisher who asked not to be named accused the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) of barring them from this year's event, the Hong Kong Free Press (HKFP) reported on May 12.

The Hong Kong Book Fair, which is among the biggest in Asia, will run from July 16 to 22 this year.

"This year, we missed a chance to reach readers who don't know about us," said Bbluesky editor-in-chief Leslie Ng.

Their application, submitted in January, but turned down the same month.

He said they joined the book fair last year "in the hope of reaching out to the general public, most of whom might not have the habit of visiting independent bookstores."

Leanne Liu, Boundary Bookstore manager, said her company was also denied.

The organizers turned down the application but gave no reasons for doing so, Liu said.

Another publisher, who did not want to be quoted by name, fearing reprisals from the government, reported that their application too was turned down.

The Hong Kong Book Fair, established in 1990, is famous for featuring a diverse number of publishers and works.

"It is possible that in staging any event, some applications may not be accepted," said the HKTDC in reply to a question from HKFP.

"We do not comment on individual cases," HKTDC added.

During the 2024 book fair, the HKTDC had reportedly asked Bbluesky and Boundary Bookstore to remove specific titles from their shelves.

Boundary Bookstore was instructed to remove four titles, citing unspecified “complaints” – Everyday Movement by novelist Leung Lee-chi, The Last Faith by Hong Kong veteran reporter Allan Au, a new novel by poet Liu Wai-tong, and a collection of stories about Hong Kong children who emigrated.

At the same time, Bbluesky, which releases a range of titles such as children's picture books, works on community development, social changes, and politics, reported that it had taken part in the fair from 2020 to 2024.

In July 2024, Bbluesky was requested to withdraw five titles from their stand at the book fair.

The titles comprised three by Allan Au – Turbulence, a travelogue, The Last Faith, on media ethics, and 2047 Nights, an essay collection.

The other two were titles by the late ex-pro-democracy legislator Shiu Ka-chun, both of which narrated his experience in prison five years ago.

Bbluesky said they had taken down four of the titles from their shelves but retained veteran journalist Au's Turbulence, explaining that the book did not have any sensitive content.

"We were verbally told by HKTDC staff last year that not complying with the rules of the book fair would adversely affect our application to join the event this year," Ng said.

Earlier this year in 2022, the HKTDC suspended three standalone publishers — Hillway Culture, Humming Publishing, and One of a Kind — without stating any particular reason.