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Elmbook, an independent bookshop that opened in 1997, has announced it will shutter its physical store in Mong Kok after being banned from the Hong Kong Book Fair.
Elmbook bookstore in Mong Kok. Photo: Elmbook, via Facebook. Announcing the impending closure on social media on Wednesday, Elmbook also said it could not participate in this year’s Hong Kong Book Fair despite having taken part in previous years.
The 29-year-old bookshop is calling on book lovers to visit the store one last time, offering a major clearance sale.
“Hundreds of boxes of new books have arrived in Hong Kong, and we look forward to welcoming book lovers for a treasure hunt,” it said.
The bookshop has yet to announce the store closure date, though it said the store’s lease would end in April next year.
In its statement, Elmbook did not say what would happen with its online bookshop.
The announcement came a day after local media reported that Elmbook and another independent bookstore, Luck Win Bookshop, were banned from participating in the Hong Kong Book Fair, which is scheduled to run from July 15 to 21.
Elmbook’s booth at the Hong Kong Book Fair in 2025. Photo: Elmbook, via Facebook.InMedia reported that the two bookstores had imported many books from Taiwan for the book fair, but they were suddenly notified of the ban in late June.
Luck Win, which was founded 48 years ago, announced on Monday a 35 per cent discount on all books.
Hong Kong Book Fair
The Hong Kong Book Fair is the city’s official annual book exhibition, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council.
The large-scale event has banned multiple bookshops and publishers over the past few years, sparking concerns about censorship.
In 2025, three independent local publishers, including Bbluesky and Boundary Bookstore, told HKFP that they were barred from participating in the book fair.
In 2024, some bookshops and publishers participating in the fair were told to remove certain titles from the shelves.
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