On April 26, the Hong Kong Audit Commission released a new report that addresses several organizations, including public libraries, the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC), and the Construction Industry Innovation Fund. The report emphasizes “the importance of bolstering national security measures and highlights some of these organizations’ need for national security ordinance. The Audit Commission, responsible for conducting administrative audits on the operation of public sector and subvented organizations, has come under scrutiny from scholars who question whether the Commission is overstepping its bounds and engaging in “political censorship.” There are concerns that the Audit Commission may be influenced by prevailing political ideologies and compete to be the “more left” organization, given the current social atmosphere in Hong Kong.
Public Libraries Remove ‘Sensitive Books’ from Shelves
The Director of Audit’s Report No. 80 comprises eight chapters, one of which is titled “Management of Public Libraries.” This chapter highlights that public libraries have revised their procedures and guidelines for acquiring library materials and accepting book and periodical donations, with a new focus on safeguarding national security. As part of this initiative, libraries have conducted a preliminary review of their collections to identify materials that may pose a national security risk and have taken steps to remove them. The review was prompted by complaints or inquiries that raised concerns about potentially harmful content. In response to these concerns, libraries are committed to conducting ongoing collections reviews to ensure that materials detrimental to national security are identified and removed promptly.However, the Audit Report pointed out that the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) has been reviewing library materials and taking necessary actions since 2021. As of February, this work is still in progress. The report suggests that the LCSD must increase its efforts to review library materials to safeguard national security.
