Hong Kong public libraries should disclose books pulled from shelves, give reasons for censorship so authors can appeal: government adviser; South China Morning Post, May 17, 2023

Natalie Wongand Jeffie Lam, South China Morning Post; Hong Kong public libraries should disclose books pulled from shelves, give reasons for censorship so authors can appeal: government adviser

"Hong Kong’s public libraries should establish a mechanism for disclosing books pulled from their shelves and explain the reasons for the decision to allow authors of censored titles a chance to appeal, a government adviser has said.

Chui Yat-hung, who sits on the Public Libraries Advisory Committee, on Wednesday also said that books about local social movements should not be censored if they were factual accounts of political events, rather than subjective ones.

“They are history after all,” he told a radio programme.

Hours after Chui made the remarks, members of the 23-strong committee were told by its secretariat to refrain from speaking to the media, the Post learned.

The lack of transparency in the ongoing action by the city’s public library operator to root out works contrary to national security also sparked concerns among educators."

The lack of transparency in the ongoing action by the city’s public library operator to root out works contrary to national security also sparked concerns among educators.