Independent bookshop Elmbook to close physical store after Hong Kong Book Fair ban

Elmbook, an independent bookshop that has served Hong Kong since 1997, will shutter its physical store in Mong Kok following a ban from the upcoming Hong Kong Book Fair. The shop announced the impending closure on social media, urging customers to visit one last time and take advantage of a major clearance sale.

The 29-year-old bookstore, a regular participant in the annual fair, received notification of its exclusion in late June. This ban also affects another independent bookstore, Luck Win Bookshop, which has been operating for 48 years. Luck Win has also announced a significant discount on all its books.

Elmbook has not yet specified a closure date for its physical store, although its lease is set to expire in April of next year. The future of its online bookshop remains uncertain.

The Hong Kong Book Fair, organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, is the city's official annual book exhibition. In recent years, the fair has faced criticism for barring multiple bookshops and publishers, raising concerns about censorship. In 2025, three independent local publishers were reportedly barred, and in 2024, some participating bookshops were instructed to remove certain titles from their shelves.

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Hundreds of boxes of new books have arrived in Hong Kong, and we look forward to welcoming book lovers for a treasure hunt.