### Crowds Gather to Bid Farewell to a Hong Kong Bookstore Before Its Final Chapter

Hong Kong, China – On a sun-drenched Sunday, a steady stream of bibliophiles and supporters queued up to pay their respects to an independent bookstore that symbolizes the city's vibrant literary scene. Have a Nice Stay, a beloved local bookstore, closed its doors for the last time following a tumultuous journey that saw it endure a police raid over allegations of seditious content and the harsh realities of the current economic climate.

Crowds gathered outside the quaint 600-square-foot space in Kowloon district, forming a snaking line that spilled down the staircase. The bookstore, which was allowed to admit only 20 people at a time, was a hub for political and social discourse, offering a diverse range of titles that mainstream retailers seldom carried.

The once-thriving independent bookstore industry in Hong Kong has been on a steady decline since Beijing imposed a sweeping national security law in 2020. The legislation, aimed at curbing what China deems as subversive activities, has had a chilling effect on free expression, particularly in the cultural sector.

Have a Nice Stay, founded in 2022 by a group of former Stand News journalists and veteran media professionals, was a testament to the resilience of the city's civil society. The store's closure was not just the end of a business but the loss of a space where ideas were freely exchanged and knowledge was shared.

In an online statement last month, the store owners expressed their disappointment in the inability to continue their mission. "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," they wrote.

The closure of Have a Nice Stay came as a result of a July 14 Facebook post by the store, which cited poor business performance, financial pressures, and uncertainty over its premises and Hong Kong's broader social environment. "Over the past six months we have faced financial deficits, though at times we managed to scrape by. Looking at Hong Kong's broader economic situation, we can only pessimistically conclude that it will become increasingly difficult to carry on," the statement read.

The store's closure also highlighted the elusive "red lines" that the bookstore industry must navigate. "Government officials have made it clear that they will not specify which books may or may not be sold," the store said. "We cannot read every book, nor are we able to determine which books may be considered problematic."

Hong Kong's bookstores have faced increasing scrutiny since the implementation of the national security law. In an earlier incident this year, National Security Police targeted three other bookstores that were accused of displaying or selling publications with seditious intent and arrested several people.

The most high-profile bookseller incident occurred in late 2015, when five publishers and booksellers associated with the Causeway Bay Books store disappeared under mysterious circumstances. All five later emerged in mainland Chinese custody and delivered televised confessions related to their alleged offences.

As Have a Nice Stay bid farewell to its patrons, the bookstore's closure served as a poignant reminder of the challenges faced by independent voices in Hong Kong. The loss of a space where free thought and expression could flourish leaves a void that will be difficult to fill.

For those who queued outside the store, the farewell was bittersweet. "It's sad to see such a place close," said one customer, as she held a copy of a book that had been a favorite. "But we have to remember that books are not just objects; they are windows to the world."

Have a Nice Stay's final day of operation was a poignant reminder of the fragility of freedom of expression and the importance of spaces that foster intellectual discourse. As the bookstore closes its doors, it leaves behind a legacy of resistance and a call to continue the fight for a free and open society.