Independent bookstore in Sham Shui Po faces charges for holding stand-up comedy class

The owner of an independent bookstore, Pong Yat-ming, and his company, Active Experiential Learning Company Limited, were accused of a count of keeping or using any place of public entertainment without a license granted for holding a stand-up comedy class in June last year. 

The case was heard for the first time on Tuesday at the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts.

The charge alleges that on June 29, 2025, at 8.07pm, the defendant used the bookstore, Book Punch, without a license granted under the Public Entertainment Ordinance, as a public entertainment venue for stage performances.

​The bookstore located on the third floor of Tai Nan Commercial Building, 169-171 Tai Nan Street in Sham Shui Po, hosts workshops and talks across different areas. 

The defense applied to adjourn the case to March 3 for further hearing, pending the collection of prosecution documents and evidence, which was granted by Magistrate Byron Tsang Chung-yiu.