#SelfCensorship #PublishingIndustry
Hong Kong Bookstores Refuse to Distribute Book by American Writer Residing in Hong Kong to "Stay Under Radar" of #NationalSecurityLaw
Source: Stand News #Dec16
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Hong Kong Bookstores Refuse to Distribute Book by American Writer Residing in Hong Kong to "Stay Under Radar" of #NationalSecurityLaw
Source: Stand News #Dec16
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
#SelfCensorship #PublishingIndustry
Hong Kong Bookstores Refuse to Distribute Book by American Writer Residing in Hong Kong to "Stay Under Radar" of #NationalSecurityLaw
American writer Kent Ewing's new political title, "Hong Kong On The Frontline 1997-2020", was scheduled to come out in September 2020; however, Hong Kong English bookstore chain Bookazine refused to stock the political title over national security law fears.
Kent Ewing, who has lived in Hong Kong for more than 30 years, said that he is always proud of Hong Kong being his home, and saddened to see that the implementation of the national security law has fueled self-censorship in the publishing sector.
Ewing said the "invisible hand" has become "ironclad" censorship: "it [national security law] wants to keep everyone's mouths shut."
Nevertheless, Ewing stated that he will not give up writing and criticizing social affairs, and plans to publish the book in Taiwan.
According to Ewing, he received an email from the publisher FormAsia in mid-September 2020, informing him that Bookazine wished to "stay under radar" because of the national security law, and refused to stock the book.
FormAsia also dropped out of their collaborative project, and stopped funding the book for publication. The Stand News has inquired with Bookazine and FormAsia and is waiting for their replies.
Source: Stand News #Dec16
#Books #KentEwing #FreeSpeech
Hong Kong Bookstores Refuse to Distribute Book by American Writer Residing in Hong Kong to "Stay Under Radar" of #NationalSecurityLaw
American writer Kent Ewing's new political title, "Hong Kong On The Frontline 1997-2020", was scheduled to come out in September 2020; however, Hong Kong English bookstore chain Bookazine refused to stock the political title over national security law fears.
Kent Ewing, who has lived in Hong Kong for more than 30 years, said that he is always proud of Hong Kong being his home, and saddened to see that the implementation of the national security law has fueled self-censorship in the publishing sector.
Ewing said the "invisible hand" has become "ironclad" censorship: "it [national security law] wants to keep everyone's mouths shut."
Nevertheless, Ewing stated that he will not give up writing and criticizing social affairs, and plans to publish the book in Taiwan.
According to Ewing, he received an email from the publisher FormAsia in mid-September 2020, informing him that Bookazine wished to "stay under radar" because of the national security law, and refused to stock the book.
FormAsia also dropped out of their collaborative project, and stopped funding the book for publication. The Stand News has inquired with Bookazine and FormAsia and is waiting for their replies.
Source: Stand News #Dec16
#Books #KentEwing #FreeSpeech