### Crowds Gather to Bidding Farewell to Hong Kong's Iconic Independent Bookstore

HONG KONG – Crowds of readers and supporters gathered on Sunday to pay their respects to an iconic independent bookstore, Have a Nice Stay, as it held its final day of operation. The closure of the store, which has been a cornerstone of Hong Kong's literary community, comes in the wake of a July police raid and ongoing financial struggles.

Have a Nice Stay, located in the bustling Kowloon district, has been a beacon for those seeking diverse perspectives in a city where the once-thriving independent bookstore industry has been severely diminished. Since Beijing imposed national security legislation in 2020, the store has faced numerous challenges, including a recent police raid that targeted alleged seditious books.

The lines of customers snaked down the staircase of the roughly 600-square-foot space, with only 20 people allowed inside at a time. The closure, announced in August, cited poor business performance and financial pressures as the primary reasons for shutting down.

"We no longer have the ability, or perhaps the courage, to continue fulfilling the mission of using books to share knowledge drawn from a diversity of perspectives," the store stated online last month.

The bookstore was founded in 2022 by a group of former Stand News journalists and veteran media professionals who lost their jobs following the wave of closures of independent local news outlets after the imposition of the security law.

The store's closure has been a blow to the city's literary scene, as it offered a broader range of political and social titles than mainstream retailers. It also became an important space for civil society through book talks and workshops.

"We faced financial deficits over the past six months, though at times we managed to scrape by," the store explained in a Facebook post. "Looking at Hong Kong's broader economic situation, we can only pessimistically conclude that it will become increasingly difficult to carry on."

Government officials have made it clear that they will not specify which books may or may not be sold, leaving the store in a precarious position. "We cannot read every book, nor are we able to determine which books may be considered problematic," the store said.

The closure of Have a Nice Stay is part of a broader trend in Hong Kong, where the once-flourishing independent bookstore industry has rapidly dwindled. Many of these stores offered a broader range of political and social titles than mainstream retailers and became important spaces for civil society.

"This is a loss for the whole of Hong Kong, not just for Have a Nice Stay," said a local writer who visited the store on its final day. "It's a loss for freedom of expression, for the right to read, and for the right to think differently."

The store's closure also brings to mind the mysterious disappearance of five publishers and booksellers associated with the Causeway Bay Books store in late 2015. The store had been famous for selling gossipy, politically sensitive paperbacks about mainland Chinese leaders.

All five later emerged in mainland Chinese custody and delivered televised confessions related to their alleged offences. The incident remains a stark reminder of the risks associated with independent publishing and bookstores in Hong Kong.

As Have a Nice Stay prepares to close its doors for the last time, the city's literary community is mourning the loss of a vital space for free expression and intellectual exchange. The closure serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by independent voices in a city where national security laws have cast a long shadow over freedom of speech and press.

The store's founders and staff expressed gratitude to the community for its unwavering support over the years. "We will always be grateful for the support and love we have received from our customers," they said in a final message.

As Have a Nice Stay fades into history, it leaves behind a legacy of resilience and defiance in the face of adversity. The store's closure is a loss for the city, but its spirit will continue to inspire those who fight for freedom of expression and the right to read.