The annual Hong Kong Book Fair is held in Hong Kong between 15-21 July 2026. On 2 July 2026, it was reported that two veteran independent bookstores, Luck Win Books (樂文書店, founded in 1984) and Elm Tree Books (榆林書店, founded in 1997), had their participation abruptly terminated by the organiser, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), for the upcoming Hong Kong Book Fair. The sudden cancellation leaves these small businesses facing severe, unrecoverable economic losses. When questioned, the HKTDC refused to provide specific reasons for the disqualifications, merely stating that all matters were handled according to the “application terms and exhibition rules.”
This sudden termination follows a pattern of increasing censorship at the state-backed fair. Pro-Beijing media had previously published articles attacking the bookstores for their political leanings. The disqualification effectively bars these independent retailers from the city’s most significant cultural and commercial platform, signaling an intensifying crackdown on any cultural entities perceived as misaligned with the state narrative.