Hong Kong publishers fear intensified censorship as city’s biggest book distributor SUP announces move to mainland China
- SUP Publishing to move its main warehouse to Guangzhou province
- All Hong Kong publications will need to pass through customs – twice
Hong Kong’s largest state-controlled book distributor has announced plans to move its warehouse to mainland China, triggering fears of intensified censorship across the city’s billion-dollar publishing industry.
The proposed relocation of SUP Publishing Logistics has been most alarming for Hong Kong’s independent publishers, with the city’s biggest source of local literature – Spicy Fish Cultural Production – saying it would consider terminating a partnership with SUP that was lasted over a decade.
SUP Logistics was founded in 2004 by Sino United Publishing (SUP), a state-owned publishing group controlled by Beijing’s liaison office in Hong Kong. SUP is the largest publishing group in Hong Kong, and SUP Logistics operates the largest distribution network
As much as 90 per cent of all retail space in bookstores across Hong Kong is controlled by SUP, according to publishing industry insiders.
The SUP relocation issue reached the public last week after a “warehouse relocation notice” was posted online. The notice, dated April 18, told suppliers the company would move its main warehouse from Tai Po to the special economic zone in Nansha, Guangzhou province, by the third quarter of this year.
“The exact date of relocation will be announced in a separate written notice. Please deliver your products to the new address. Other conditions of distribution will remain the same,” the online notice said.