HK Cops Nab Men With "Seditious" Children's Books

Two men have been arrested in Hong Kong for the possession of picture books which authorities say are "seditious," Joel Guinto reported for BBC News, the first to be nabbed for owning children’s books.

Photo Insert: Cops raided homes in Kowloon and Hong Kong island and seized multiple copies of the books, which are part of a series titled “Yangcun.”

The publishers of those books were jailed last year. Authorities interpreted the books - about sheep trying to hold back wolves from their village - as referring to Hong Kongers and China's government.

The arrests are another deterioration of Hong Kongers' rights, critics say. It may not be far off before Hong Kong arrests children for merely looking at “seditious” cartoons.

Human Rights Watch described the arrests as "shameful," and said the territory was using its colonial-era sedition law to clamp down on dissent.

Hong Kong media reported police arrested the men, aged 38 and 50, at their apartments on Mar. 13. They raided their homes in Kowloon and Hong Kong island and seized multiple copies of the books, which are part of a series titled “Yangcun.”

Both men have been released on bail but must report to the police next month, authorities said.

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