Demand for books and videos on terrorism has soared in Hong Kong since the September 11 attacks, say retailers. Sales of Tom Clancy novels, and books on the Middle East and biological warfare, which had previously attracted little interest, have taken off, along with films and documentaries on war. Swindon Books has taken advantage of the interest with a display at Ocean Terminal of books on history, politics, terrorism, religion and the Middle East. A spokeswoman for Page One said one book, Tom Clancy's Executive Orders, was selling fast at its stores in Times Square and Festival Walk. The novel tells how a Japanese terrorist crashes a 747 jet into the US Capitol, killing the president and members of Congress, while Iranians are unleashing the Ebola virus on American citizens. HMV said sales of movies based on Tom Clancy novels Clear and Present Danger, about Colombian drug-runners, and Patriot Games, about the IRA, had risen 15 per cent. Film distributor Pearl City Video said demand from VCD retailers for war and special forces-related movies had increased 20 to 30 per cent. Another distributor, Panorama, which also operates cinemas, said demand from retailers for action films had increased up to 50 per cent. Elaine Leung, chief operating officer of online bookstore Paddyfield.com, reported stronger interest in books on Islam and the Taleban, but said it was mainly from 'media types and academics'. A clinical psychologist said Hong Kong people felt removed from the terror attacks in the US and were just curious. 'People in the US were and are facing death in a very close way - that may lead for a search for meaning,' she said. 'For Hong Kong people, they are just intellectually interested.'
