Book Punch Founder and Three Staff Arrested on Seditious Publication Charges; Long Queue Forms Outside Store Late at Night
Last night sent a real tremor through Hong Kong's cultural circles, all over a certain Book Punch in Sham Shui Po, a place that’s practically a pilgrimage site for the city's creatives. News broke suddenly in the evening: founder Pang Yat-ming and three staff members were invited for a ‘chat’—formally arrested—by the National Security Department. The charge is serious: allegedly conspiring to print, publish, distribute, show, or reproduce seditious publications.
I’ve lived in Sham Shui Po for years, so I’d often find myself wandering around Tai Nan Street. Book Punch is more than just a bookshop. It’s a small space, but they were always hosting talks, screenings, and they had this famous little nook where people could just curl up in a corner to browse. It was the kind of place younger folks loved to explore, rummaging for hidden gems. The vibe there was totally different from a chain store—it had a neighbourly feel, a kind of… how to put it… the quiet defiance you often find in an indie bookstore.
So when I heard the news last night, I knew it was serious. I headed straight over, and sure enough, the shop’s metal shutter was half down, with dozens of people already gathered outside. Some were locals, others had made a special trip. Everyone had a grim look on their face, murmuring among themselves. A few young women were standing there, unable to hold back tears. They said they came almost every week and were heartbroken at the thought they might never see the Book Punch sign again.
This operation by the police’s National Security Department was focused on certain publications found in the shop. It’s understood that, besides founder Pang Yat-ming, the manager and two other colleagues were also arrested—four in total. The news exploded across social media. Many in the cultural and publishing sectors spoke out, noting that despite the tense atmosphere lately, they hadn't expected an independent bookstore to become a target. Some fear this might only be the first wave.
In recent years, we've grown used to bookshops turning into ‘attractions’. People might go not just to buy books, but to take photos or grab a coffee. But Book Punch always felt like it still had its heart—a place that genuinely had something to say, something to express. Now that its heart has been ripped out, the atmosphere on the whole street has turned heavy.
A friend texted me on WhatsApp, asking what I made of it. I said I’m not one for big analyses, but as someone who lives in this neighbourhood, I know one thing: there are plenty of bookshops in Sham Shui Po, but at 11pm, to see a crowd of people spontaneously standing on the street, waiting for news about a single bookstore… that picture in itself speaks volumes.
This storm isn't likely to pass quickly. The most pressing questions now are the wellbeing of the four individuals, and what the future holds for the shop. For us locals, there’s not much we can do except wait. But I’ll remember that on Tai Nan Street, there was once a place called Book Punch. It landed a punch with its books—a punch that woke up a lot of people walking through this city.
Key Points at a Glance
- Those Arrested: Book Punch founder Pang Yat-ming and three staff members
- Alleged Offence: Conspiracy to print, publish, distribute, show, or reproduce seditious publications
- Latest Situation: The four are being held for questioning; the bookstore is closed, with members of the public having gathered outside
- Public Reaction: Widespread concern from cultural circles and book lovers, with fears for the future of independent bookshops
As someone who’s watched Tai Nan Street transform from a place for fabric merchants to a hub for the city's creatives, all I can say is that what’s happened to Book Punch is a reflection of the wider cultural atmosphere in Hong Kong right now. Will there still be places like this in the future, where people can quietly flip through books, listen to a talk, or just have a chat? I suspect that’s a question on many people’s minds, and for now, it remains unanswered.