Hong Kong’s National Security Law: A Quiet War on Small Businesses and Free Speech

Years after the headline-making mass arrests silenced vocal pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong, Beijing's crackdown has gone deeper, hitting not only politicians but ordinary citizens operating small businesses. This isn’t just about law enforcement; it’s a calculated campaign to snuff out dissent through bureaucratic harassment and regulatory overreach. Former district councilor Leticia Wong’s bookstore stands as a stark example. Between July 2022 and June 2025, her shop endured nearly one hundred inspections and official visits triggered often by trivial complaints. Around sensitive dates like June 4, marking the Tiananmen Square anniversary, the scrutiny intensifies—signaling an unmistakable political motive behind so-called...