Final Reminder: The deadline for the LikeCoin v3 upgrade is Monday, February 2, 2026. If you hold v2 LikeCoin, please take this last opportunity to use the migration tool to upgrade.
On the same day, Monday, February 2, at 18:30 (HK/TW time), we will hold our monthly LikeCoin community call at meet.google.com/ndv-fbfx-cat to discuss arrangements following the v3 upgrade.
- Long-time readers of this newsletter might remember that in September 2024, without much preparation, I rented a “cubicle shop” in Shek Mun. I named it Just Books (義守書店)—a place that sold both new and used books, in both physical and digital formats. Four months later, when the lease expired, I had only sold a few dozen books. I chose not to renew, and Just Books went into a hiatus.
- In the first newsletter of 2025, while announcing that the cubicle shop wouldn’t continue, I predicted that Just Books would return in a different form, stating a 90% confidence level. As it turned out, during last month’s year-end review, I had to admit with some embarrassment that I missed that goal by a single day.
- The reason I was 90% confident back then was that I had indeed already signed the lease for our current location in late 2024. I never expected it would take over a year to finally open. That’s just how I operate—reckless at times, acting on a whim without a second thought; yet at other times, I spend an entire year overthinking and stuck in the planning phase.
- Past is past. In short, Just Books officially opened on January 1st this year. We held a small party that day, and I am deeply grateful for the many friends who came to cheer us on. The new shop is located in Fortress Hill. Looking at the address alone, most people would need Google Maps to find us. Interestingly, if I say we are “directly opposite Sam Kee,” people understand instantly. They often say, “Oh! Then I’ll visit both shops next time.”
Just Books (義守書店)
Shop 8, B/F, King’s Centre, 193 King’s Road
Mon–Fri: 13:00–22:00; Sat, Sun & Public Holidays: 15:00–22:00
Instagram / Threads: justbooks.852
- So, is Just Books trying to steal Sam Kee’s foot traffic or business? It’s more like “stealing” their cat’s aura. Sam Kee’s old cat, “Officer Wu,” often wanders over and has already marked Just Books as his territory by peeing here. In reality, Sam Kee and Just Books are friendly neighbors. we’ve agreed to build an “Underground Book City” together (don’t get me wrong, I can’t take credit for that title—it’s simply because both our shops are in the basement). When I was looking for a space, I actually asked Ms. Chan, the manager of Sam Kee, to keep an eye out for vacant units nearby. In late 2024, the beauty salon across from Sam Kee moved out, and I seized the opportunity, signing the lease before I was even ready.
- You might ask: should I buy books from Just Books or Sam Kee? That’s an easy one for me—I had a year to think about it, after all. The answer is simple: Buy physical books from Sam Kee, and buy e-books from Just Books. Just Books exclusively deals in e-books; we do not sell physical copies.
- Why no physical books? For the tenth time: I don’t dislike physical books, but I want to focus on e-books, a field few in Hong Kong are tackling. There are many unique independent bookstores selling physical books, and with a veteran like Sam Kee right next door, why would I try to compete? Time, energy, and resources are limited. I want to do what society lacks—filling the neglected gaps. In the realm of cultural preservation, my position is digital publishing.
- Sharp-eyed visitors might wonder: “What about those physical books on the right of the cover photo?” You’ve seen right through me. The glass cabinet with the fan inside is actually a Sam Kee Showcase. it holds many rare second-hand books, such as first editions by Liu Yichang, and works by Wong Bik-wan and Tung Chiao. You are welcome to treasure-hunt here; if you find something you love, please head across to Sam Kee for inquiries.
- As for the other shelf full of physical books, those belong to DHK dao (though I prefer to call them a “Public Good”). These are the 221 essential Hong Kong books preserved through the 2024 UBR (Universal Basic Readers) program. The list was curated by bookstores like LauBak, Hunter, Typewriter, and Mount Zero, and funded by the public and DHK DAO. (Details can be found in the UBR 2024 Report). After the project ended, these books spent most of 2025 in my storage unit. Now that Just Books is open, I can finally answer the “reasonable question” everyone asked: “What happens after we buy them?” If you are interested in these books that represent an era, you are welcome to sit down and read them at Just Books.
- Despite being only 10 square meters (about 100 sq. ft.), we provide two seats for writing, researching, or just spacing out. We also provide hot water (please bring your own container) and WiFi. More importantly—the Wall has been scaled. You can use Gemini and ChatGPT directly here without any hassle.
- I’ve talked for so long and haven’t even mentioned the core business—I’m terrible at sales. Just Books is the physical flagship for 3ook.com. All e-books in the shop can be purchased via self-service: just scan the QR code and pay by credit card. If I or other staff are present, we can provide further guidance or accept other payment methods.
- Beyond e-books, Just Books serves as a “Genius Bar.” If you encounter difficulties with 3ook.com, LikeCoin, DHK, or crypto wallets, you can book an appointment with our “massive customer service team” (i.e., me) for an in-person resolution. I’m currently in the final sprint for the LikeCoin v3 upgrade, so the booking form will open on the website next week.
- We’re practically becoming an “Odd Jobs Gin” (Just Books Yorozuya). We are also preparing more services: selling e-readers, scanning authorized books/magazines for customers, creating EPUBs for authors and publishers, and hosting decentralized publishing workshops. I won’t promise too much yet to avoid overextending—details will be announced when ready. Until then, feel free to “clamor” for what you want to see.
P.S. I’ve always preferred buses over the MTR. Although the 40-minute bus ride from home to Just Books is a bit long, I find it quite pleasant to listen to podcasts while watching the scenery.
Because of this, I am deeply annoyed by the new law that recently took effect, making seatbelts mandatory for bus passengers. Yes, wearing a seatbelt is undeniably safer. I won’t get into the philosophical debate of whether an individual has a duty to maximize their own safety. I want to talk about basic logic: Hong Kong buses allow standing passengers, and they are often packed to the brim during rush hour.
The new law mandates seatbelts for seated passengers while simultaneously allowing others to stand. If not wearing a seatbelt is considered “irresponsible safety behavior,” then what about the “paternalistic over-regulation” that has allowed buses to be packed with standing passengers for decades—and continues to do so after the law took effect? Is that not “disregarding public safety”?
Even a three-year-old knows this law is nearly impossible to enforce. But that’s a feature, not a bug. The government loves keeping a vast array of unused laws on the books, ready to be plucked and used whenever they need to prosecute someone. As I see it, the only positive significance of this new law is that every day, a million people are taking to the streets in “civil disobedience” by refusing to buckle up.
Leave a Reply