Bookstore says customs seized Taiwan book shipment
HK01 · 2 SOURCESabout 4 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Prisoner-support platform Migrant Bird said a shipment of books ordered from Taiwan and due to arrive on October 13 reached Hong Kong about a week late, after the carrier told it the books had been held by Customs. When the goods arrived, the group said an expected two boxes had been reduced to half a box, with more than 60 books missing. Migrant Bird said a Customs receipt showed officers acted under Article 13B(1) of Schedule 3 to the implementation rules for Article 43 of the Hong Kong National Security Law. Customs said it would not comment on individual cases, but said items with seditious intent would be detained according to law and may be referred to the police national security department.
Key Points
- Migrant Bird, a prisoner-support platform founded by former Yau Tsim Mong district councillor Chu Kong-wai, disclosed the case in a social media post
- The group said the Taiwan book shipment was scheduled to arrive on October 13, but delivery was delayed by about seven days after Customs inspection.
- On receipt, staff found only half a box remained from an expected two-box consignment, and said more than 60 books had disappeared.
- Migrant Bird said the carrier held a Customs seizure receipt citing Schedule 3, Article 13B(1), covering suspected items with seditious intent
- Customs said it does not comment on individual cases; after March amendments, officers may seize suspected seditious items and seek forfeiture from a magistrate.
Why It Matters
The case points to how the March changes to the Article 43 implementation rules may affect the import and sale of books already circulating in Hong Kong shops. For local readers and booksellers, the immediate issue is uncertainty over what titles may be detained at the border and what explanation importers can expect from authorities.