Hong Kong journalist Leticia Wong arrested over 'seditious' bookstore publications
Synopsis
Hong Kong authorities have arrested journalist and bookstore owner Leticia Wong Man-huen for allegedly selling seditious publications — including a biography of jailed Apple Daily publisher Jimmy Lai. The arrest, timed days before the national security law's sixth anniversary, pushes China's imprisoned journalist count to 51, cementing its status as the world's worst jailer of journalists, according to the CPJ.
Key Takeaways
Leticia Wong Man-huen , 33, journalist and owner of Hunter Bookstore in Sham Shui Po , was arrested by Hong Kong National Security Police on 25 June 2025 .
She is accused of selling seditious publications and receiving remittances from foreign political organisations under Section 25 of the Organised and Serious Crimes Ordinance .
Seized items reportedly included a biography of Jimmy Lai , who was sentenced to 20 years in prison in February 2026 .
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called for her immediate release, saying publishing activities must not be treated as national security threats.
Wong's arrest makes her the ninth journalist imprisoned in Hong Kong, raising China's total to at least 51 — the highest of any country.
The arrest comes days before the sixth anniversary of Hong Kong's Beijing-imposed national security law on 30 June .
Press freedom advocates are calling for the immediate release of Leticia Wong Man-huen, a journalist and independent bookstore owner arrested by Hong Kong National Security Police on Wednesday, 25 June 2025, on suspicion of selling seditious publications and receiving funds from foreign political organisations. The arrest, which also netted a 32-year-old man, comes just days before the sixth anniversary of the Beijing-imposed national security law on 30 June.
What Led to the Arrest
Police said the proprietors of a shop in Sham Shui Po were detained for displaying items with seditious intent and selling publications that allegedly incited hatred against the Hong Kong government, its judiciary, and law enforcement agencies. Authorities also accused the pair of violating Section 25 of the Organised and Serious Crimes Ordinance by receiving remittances funded by foreign political organisations.
Among the items reportedly seized was a copy of 'The Troublemaker', a biography of former Apple Daily newspaper publisher Jimmy Lai, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison in February 2026 by a Hong Kong court.
Who Is Leticia Wong
Wong, 33, is a former political reporter for local newspaper Sing Tao Daily and the editor-in-chief of Status Quo, a magazine published by her independent outlet Hunter Bookstore. The magazine features interviews, essays, and reporting on Hong Kong society and culture. Wong has also contributed articles to the publication, including an interview with singer and activist Denise Ho, who was herself arrested in a 2021 national security operation targeting the now-closed online media outlet Stand News.
What the Committee to Protect Journalists Said
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) on Thursday called on Hong Kong authorities to immediately free Wong, arguing that publishing activities must not be treated as threats to national security. CPJ Asia-Pacific Director Beh Lih Yi said the arrest of a journalist and editor over items sold through an independent bookstore demonstrates that Hong Kong authorities are 'expanding national security laws ever deeper into the city's publishing sector.'
The CPJ noted that Wong's detention brings the total number of journalists imprisoned in Hong Kong to nine, and pushes China's overall tally to at least 51 — a figure that, according to the organisation's latest research, makes China the world's worst jailer of journalists.
Broader Pattern of Press Suppression
This is not an isolated incident. The arrest follows years of sustained pressure on Hong Kong's independent media landscape, which saw the forced closure of outlets including Apple Daily and Stand News under national security legislation enacted in 2020. Critics argue that the law has been applied with increasing breadth, now reaching into the city's independent publishing and bookselling sectors. Notably, the timing — days before the law's sixth anniversary — has drawn sharp attention from international press freedom groups.
The international community, including press freedom organisations, is expected to intensify scrutiny of Hong Kong's media environment in the coming days as the anniversary approaches.
Point of View
But is moving into the retail distribution of ideas. The seizure of 'The Troublemaker,' a book about Jimmy Lai, suggests that even secondary dissemination of critical narratives is now legally actionable. What mainstream coverage often underplays is the chilling effect on publishers, distributors, and readers who self-censor to avoid ambiguous legal exposure. With the law's sixth anniversary days away and the international community watching, Beijing faces a reputational cost — but there is little evidence that external pressure has, to date, altered enforcement patterns.
NationPress
26 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Leticia Wong Man-huen?
Leticia Wong Man-huen is a 33-year-old Hong Kong journalist, former political reporter for Sing Tao Daily, and editor-in-chief of Status Quo magazine, published through her independent outlet Hunter Bookstore. She was arrested on 25 June 2025 by Hong Kong National Security Police on suspicion of selling seditious publications.
Why was Leticia Wong arrested?
Police arrested Wong for allegedly displaying items with seditious intent, selling publications said to incite hatred against the Hong Kong government and its institutions, and receiving remittances from foreign political organisations in violation of Section 25 of the Organised and Serious Crimes Ordinance.
What is the Committee to Protect Journalists calling for?
The CPJ has called on Hong Kong authorities to immediately release Wong and to stop treating publishing activities as threats to national security. CPJ Asia-Pacific Director Beh Lih Yi said the arrest shows authorities are expanding national security laws deeper into the city's publishing sector.
How many journalists has China imprisoned?
According to the CPJ's latest research, China has at least 51 journalists behind bars, making it the world's worst jailer of journalists. Wong's arrest makes her the ninth journalist imprisoned specifically in Hong Kong.
What is the significance of the arrest's timing?
The arrest occurred just days before 30 June 2025, the sixth anniversary of Hong Kong's Beijing-imposed national security law. Press freedom groups have noted the timing as emblematic of the law's expanding application to independent publishing and bookselling.
