Hong Kong book fair organised by Tai Kwun pulls essay collection by ex-opposition politician
Cultural hub says it removed Margaret Ng’s latest book to abide with law, while publisher’s earlier online post lamented lack of reasons given
The latest book by former Hong Kong opposition lawmaker Margaret Ng Ngoi-yee was pulled from a recent fair organised by cultural centre Tai Kwun, which said it had done so out of duty as a “law-abiding organisation”.
Publisher and exhibitor Mount Zero Books on Tuesday confirmed that the heritage and arts venue had ordered it to remove Ng’s essay collection Hong Kong in the Rain from “BOOKED: Hong Kong Art Book Fair 2024”, which ran from August 30 to September 1.
A spokeswoman for the publisher said the book was removed on August 31 and asked “how exhibitors and organisers should communicate” and whether there were ways to “make the exhibition better and more interesting”.
Mount Zero Books was among more than 110 local and international publishers, artists, booksellers and organisations that took part at the sixth edition of the fair held at Tai Kwun’s JC Contemporary venue.
Tai Kwun, which is operated by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, did not mention the removal of the book in a reply to the Post but stressed the importance of legal compliance.
“While Tai Kwun has always supported artistic works that add diversity to Hong Kong’s cultural discourse, we also recognise Tai Kwun’s duty as a law-abiding organisation to observe and comply with the laws of Hong Kong,” the organiser said.
