Chung Hwa Book Company (Hong Kong)
A Hong Kong publishing house, bookstore chain, and cultural retail organization focused on Chinese-language books and educational and cultural materials.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Chung Hwa Book Company (Hong Kong) is a Hong Kong publishing house and bookstore chain whose activities combine book publishing, physical retail, direct sales, and cultural merchandising. The Hong Kong operation was established in 1927, fifteen years after the founding of the wider Chung Hwa Book Company in Shanghai. It developed as a locally oriented branch serving Hong Kong readers while maintaining a strong emphasis on Chinese language, Chinese history, traditional culture, classical literature, philosophy, and education. The company became particularly associated with books that mediate between traditional Chinese learning and modern mass-market publishing. Its catalogue has included works on Chinese civilization, contemporary China, literature, essays, children's reading, dictionaries, popular culture, and self-improvement. From the 1950s through the 1970s, the Hong Kong operation published approximately 850 different book types, with more than one-third dealing with aspects of Chinese civilization. This publishing profile helped establish the company as a cultural rather than purely commercial bookseller. During the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong in the Second World War, the company was involved in the production of Hong Kong currency notes. It printed HK$50 and HK$100 notes during the occupation period from 1941 to 1945, an unusual episode in the history of a publishing and bookselling organization. After the war, the business continued to expand its publishing and retail presence. A flagship store opened in Yau Ma Tei in 1979, followed by further branches including the Tsuen Wan Plaza store in 1991. The Hong Kong branch was reorganized and incorporated as Chung Hwa Book Company (Hong Kong) Limited in 1988. In the same period it became part of Sino United Publishing, a larger Hong Kong publishing and distribution group. This structure allowed Chung Hwa to operate as one element of a broader publishing house while retaining its own retail identity and specialist cultural positioning. The company subsequently experimented with differentiated store formats. Its Slow Reading Time concept store opened in 2001, presenting books through a more lifestyle-oriented and browsing-focused retail environment. In 2012, it established Manga Shop in Mong Kok, a specialist outlet for Japanese comics that also acted as a dealer for the Japanese Animate chain. In 2016, after the closure of Yip Yi Tong, Chung Hwa opened five outlets at Hong Kong International Airport, extending its retail presence into a major transport and visitor location. Today, Chung Hwa operates as a broad cultural publishing and retail brand rather than only a conventional general bookstore. Its activities include publishing, bookstore operations, direct sales, specialist book retail, and associated sub-brands such as Feifan Publishing, Kaiming Bookstore, Animation World, and Slow Reading Time. Its stores have been located in areas including Yau Ma Tei, Causeway Bay and the Hong Kong Central Library vicinity, as well as airport facilities. The company has received recognition through Hong Kong and international book and design awards. Its seventh-edition New Chinese Dictionary received a Japanese Good Design Award in 2018, reflecting the continuing importance of reference publishing within its portfolio.
History
The wider Chung Hwa Book Company was established in Shanghai in 1912, while the Hong Kong branch was founded in 1927. The Hong Kong business grew as a publisher and bookseller with a mission centered on promoting Chinese culture and contributing to modern civic and educational life. Its catalogue developed around Chinese history, civilization, classical learning, literature, reference works, and educational reading, later expanding into children's books, contemporary essays, popular culture, and self-improvement. One of the most unusual episodes in the company's history occurred during the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong from 25 December 1941 to 15 August 1945. In addition to its normal publishing-related activities, the company printed HK$50 and HK$100 currency notes. This wartime role distinguishes the Hong Kong branch from an ordinary bookstore and illustrates the practical importance of its printing capabilities during a period when normal commercial institutions were disrupted. From the 1950s through the 1970s, Chung Hwa published roughly 850 types of books in Hong Kong. More than one-third concerned Chinese civilization, reinforcing its position as a major disseminator of Chinese cultural and historical knowledge. The company also gradually expanded its physical retail network. It opened a flagship store in Yau Ma Tei in 1979 and a Tsuen Wan Plaza branch in 1991. A major corporate change took place in 1988, when the Hong Kong branch was reorganized and registered as Chung Hwa Book Company (Hong Kong) Limited. It became a member of Sino United Publishing, placing the brand within a larger Hong Kong publishing and distribution group. The arrangement supported a broader operating model covering publishing, retail, and direct sales while allowing Chung Hwa to retain its established identity. During the 2000s and 2010s, the company tested new retail concepts and specialist formats. Slow Reading Time opened in 2001 as a concept store built around a slower, more experiential approach to browsing and reading. Manga Shop was established in Mong Kok in 2012 to specialize in Japanese comics and to distribute products connected with Animate. In 2016, Chung Hwa expanded at Hong Kong International Airport, opening five branches after the closure of Yip Yi Tong. The modern operation includes general bookstores, cultural publishing, direct sales, and affiliated or sub-branded activities. Named sub-brands include Feifan Publishing, Kaiming Bookstore, Animation World, and Slow Reading Time. The company's subject coverage ranges from Chinese history and classical works to dictionaries, children's reading, current China-related writing, manga, and general-interest titles. Its work has been recognized by Hong Kong publishing awards, book prizes connected with Taipei and Asian scholarship, and international design recognition. In 2018, the seventh edition of the New Chinese Dictionary received a Japanese Good Design Award. The company also faced a public controversy at the 2013 Hong Kong Book Fair over the sale of an abridged Chinese edition of A Brief History of Hong Kong. Chung Hwa explained that the abridged edition was intended as a small sample for copyright and mainland distribution discussions, while the complete translation was available in Hong Kong and elsewhere. The company attributed the sale of 38 sample copies at the fair to a stocking and display mistake and recalled them. This incident is the principal controversy identified in the available reference material.
- 2018
New Chinese Dictionary receives Good Design recognition
[1]The seventh edition of the New Chinese Dictionary received a Japanese Good Design Award.
- 2016
Five airport branches opened
[1]The company opened five outlets at Hong Kong International Airport after the closure of Yip Yi Tong.
- 2012
Manga Shop established in Mong Kok
[1]Chung Hwa launched a specialist Japanese-comics outlet and Animate dealership in Mong Kok.
- 2001
Slow Reading Time concept store opens
[1]The company introduced Slow Reading Time as a distinct, lifestyle-oriented bookstore concept.
- 1991
Tsuen Wan Plaza branch opens
[1]A new Chung Hwa branch opened at Tsuen Wan Plaza.
- 1988
Hong Kong company reorganized
[1]The Hong Kong branch was registered as Chung Hwa Book Company (Hong Kong) Limited and became a member of Sino United Publishing.
- 1979
Yau Ma Tei flagship store opens
[1]The company opened a flagship store in Yau Ma Tei, strengthening its presence in Hong Kong's physical book retail market.
- 1941
Currency notes printed during the occupation
[1]During the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong, the company printed HK$50 and HK$100 currency notes.
- 1927
Hong Kong branch established
[1]Chung Hwa established its Hong Kong branch, which later developed into a substantial local publishing and retail operation.
- 1912
Chung Hwa Book Company founded in Shanghai
[1]The wider Chung Hwa Book Company was established in Shanghai, preceding the creation of its Hong Kong branch.
Products and positioning
A Hong Kong cultural publisher and bookseller centered on Chinese language, Chinese history and civilization, reference publishing, education, and accessible cultural reading, with additional specialist and lifestyle-oriented retail formats.
Dictionaries and reference books
New Chinese Dictionary
A major reference title in the Chung Hwa catalogue. The seventh edition was recognized by the Japanese Good Design Award in 2018, reflecting the company's continuing role in Chinese-language reference publishing.
History and cultural publishing
Chinese history and culture publications
A core publishing area covering Chinese civilization, history, classical works, philosophy, literature, and related cultural subjects. This category formed a substantial part of the Hong Kong operation's output during the 1950s through the 1970s and remains central to its identity.
Educational publishing
Children's and educational books
The company publishes children's reading and educational materials alongside dictionaries and other reference works, extending its cultural mission into school-age and family reading.
Specialist bookstore · 2012
Manga Shop
Established in Mong Kok in 2012, Manga Shop specializes in Japanese comic books and also operates as a dealer for the Japanese Animate chain. It represents Chung Hwa's move into specialist popular-culture retail.
Bookstore concept · 2001
Slow Reading Time
A concept-store format introduced in 2001, Slow Reading Time presents books through a more relaxed and lifestyle-oriented retail experience than a conventional general bookstore.
Controversies
2013
Abridged edition of A Brief History of Hong Kong sold at book fair
At the 2013 Hong Kong Book Fair, 38 copies of an abridged Chinese edition of A Brief History of Hong Kong were sold. Chung Hwa stated that the edition had been produced in small numbers as a sample for copyright and mainland distribution discussions, while a complete translation existed for Hong Kong and other markets. The company said the sample books had been stocked and displayed by mistake and recalled them.
Brand decisions
2016
Expansion into Hong Kong International AirportStrategyBackground
The closure of Yip Yi Tong created an opportunity for new book retail outlets at the airport.
Action taken
Chung Hwa opened five branches at Hong Kong International Airport.
Aftermath
The move extended the company's retail footprint into a high-traffic transport and visitor environment.
2012
Launch of Manga ShopProduct launchBackground
Demand for Japanese comics and related popular-culture products created an opportunity for a specialist retail format.
Action taken
Chung Hwa established Manga Shop in Mong Kok and operated it as an Animate dealer.
Aftermath
The company expanded its portfolio into specialist Japanese-comics retail.
2001
Introduction of the Slow Reading Time conceptStrategyBackground
The company sought to broaden its retail formats beyond the standard general bookstore.
Action taken
It opened a Slow Reading Time concept store designed around a more experiential and lifestyle-oriented approach to bookselling.
Aftermath
Slow Reading Time became one of the brand's named retail concepts.
1988
Reorganization as a Hong Kong limited companyStrategyBackground
The Hong Kong branch was formalized within a corporate structure and integrated into the wider Sino United Publishing group.
Action taken
It was registered as Chung Hwa Book Company (Hong Kong) Limited and became a Sino United Publishing member.
Aftermath
The brand continued operating as a distinct publishing and retail identity within a larger publishing and distribution organization.
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