Hong Kong-themed bazaar in Taipei highlights Taiwan's creative freedom

Taipei, Nov. 8 (CNA) Chatter in Cantonese and Mandarin filled a Taipei bazaar on Saturday, where stalls run by Hongkongers in Taiwan drew crowds seeking authentic cuisine -- and traces of the creative freedom many believe has vanished from Hong Kong.

Among the 68 stalls set up at Huashan 1914 Creative Park, a bookstall selling titles no longer publishable in Hong Kong stood out from the others offering Hong Kong-style snacks and creative products.

"A few years ago, these two books likely couldn't be published in Hong Kong, so the authors moved to Taiwan to work with local publishers," said stall owner Amy, a Taiwan-based Hongkonger who asked to use a pseudonym over safety concerns.

The two books she presented were written by a group of Hong Kong journalists about the city's 2019 Anti-Extradition Law Amendment Bill Movement -- a series of demonstrations opposing Beijing's growing control over the former British colony.

Since the Hong Kong National Security Law took effect in 2020, space for creative and publishing freedoms has narrowed, culminating in the 2021 closure of Apple Daily.

"In recent years, many Hong Kong media workers and authors have emigrated to Taiwan for greater creative freedom," Amy said.

She added that Taiwan's publishing industry has no censorship, even on sensitive themes such as LGBTQ+ topics -- a freedom Taiwanese visitor Doris Weng said has drawn many Hong Kong creators to relocate.

Citing the establishment of the Hong Kong-themed bookstore "nowhere" in Taipei in 2022, Weng said Taiwan welcomes cultural contributions from Hongkongers, which she said can enrich Taiwan's culture.

Weng also described Taiwan and Hong Kong "as allies of freedom" facing pressure from China. "When confronting a big authoritarian power, we hope to make more friends -- that way we have more strength," she said.

Running from Saturday to Sunday, the bazaar was organized by the government-funded Taiwan-Hong Kong Economic and Cultural Co-operation Council (THEC), which has held the event annually since 2023.

THEC Secretary-General Lu Chang-shui (盧長水) said Taiwan's "free, diverse and democratic environment" allows anyone to unleash creativity.

"In Taiwan, you can focus on expressing your creativity … You don't have to worry that your creations won't be shareable," Lu said, adding that THEC will continue to support Hong Kong cultural workers, including plans for a film festival next year showcasing movies that were censored in Hong Kong.