Three independent local publishers, including Bbluesky and Boundary Bookstore, have confirmed to HKFP that they have been barred from participating in this year’s Hong Kong Book Fair.
Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the Hong Kong Book Fair 2025 is scheduled to take place from July 16 to 22 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai.
Leslie Ng, editor-in-chief of Bbluesky, told HKFP on Monday morning that the publishing company in January applied to join the book fair but the HKTDC sent them an email and a letter later that month, informing them of the rejection without any explanation.
“We participated in the book fair in the hope of reaching out to the general public, most of whom might not have the habit of visiting independent bookstores,” Ng said in Cantonese. “This year, we lost an opportunity to meet readers who haven’t heard of us before.”
Leanne Liu, manager of Boundary Bookstore, told HKFP on Monday morning that the publishing firm was also prohibited from participating in the large-scale book fair. In a letter Liu showed to HKFP, the HKDTC said the publisher’s application to join the event “was not accepted.”
The HKTDC did not provide reasons for the rejection, Liu said.
Another publisher also told HKFP that their application to join the book fair was rejected. The publisher did not want to disclose its name.
In response to HKFP’s enquiry, the HKTDC said, “In organising any event, it is not uncommon that some applications may not be successful. We do not comment on individual cases.”
Warning from HKTDC
Founded in 1990, the Hong Kong Book Fair is the city’s largest fair showcasing a wide range of publishers and titles. During the book fair last year, the HKTDC asked Bbluesky and Boundary to remove certain titles from their shelves.
Liu of Boundary Bookstore told HKFP in July that HKTDC staff informed the publisher that four titles should not be on sale at its booth, citing “complaints.”
The four titles included The Last Faith by Hong Kong veteran reporter Allan Au; a new novel written by Liu Wai-tong, a local poet; a collection of stories about Hong Kong children who emigrated; and novelist Leung Lee-chi’s Everyday Movement.
Liu said that if they were to take part in the book fair this year, Boundary Bookstore would not showcase the four titles again.
Established in 2000, Bbluesky publishes a variety of titles including picture books for children, as well as works on community development, social changes and politics. It previously participated in the book fair every year from 2020 to 2024.
Ng of Bbluesky told HKFP in July that they were asked to remove five titles from their booth at the book fair, including three written by Au – Turbulence, a travelogue; The Last Faith, which discusses media ethics; and 2047 Nights, a collection of essays.
The remaining two were books by the late former pro-democracy lawmaker Shiu Ka-chun, both of which recounted his time in prison five years ago.
Bbluesky eventually pulled four of the titles from its shelves but left veteran journalist Au’s Turbulence, saying that the book contained no sensitive content.
“We were informed by HKTDC staff verbally last year that failure to follow the rules of the book fair would negatively impact our application to participate in the event this year,” Ng said on Monday. “Therefore, we have been mentally prepared that we won’t be allowed to participate this year.”
