Protesters test mask ban under cover of festivities
Hong Kong protesters took advantage of Halloween Thursday to don costume masks – from neon skulls to pumpkins – in defiance of a ban.
Hundreds of revellers and protesters were fenced in by riot police in Lan Kwai Fong, a popular nightlife neighbourhood, with the uniformed ranks pushing bystanders, including many children dressed as angels and Spiderman, away from the main bar strip.
The protest came as the government said Hong Kong’s economy shrank 3.2 per cent in JulySeptember from the previous quarter, pushing the city into a technical recession.
Some activists showed up in protest-themed costumes – one was dressed as a tear-gas canister and another as a colourful ‘‘Lennon Wall’’, referring to impromptu walls of prodemocracy protest art that dot the city. Protests chants rang out above the crowds. Someone shouted, ‘‘I need a drink! I want a Molotov cocktail!’’
Police fired tear gas in other neighbourhoods while protesters lobbed petrol bombs and bricks at the officers. Antagonism towards the police is at a fever pitch as protests approach the start of a sixth consecutive month.
‘‘They don’t treat us as humans,’’ said Andrew Wong, 40. ‘‘Police have to stop their violence immediately.’’
‘‘I’m here to have fun with my kid; the police shouldn’t do this,’’ said Alien, 38, who declined to give his real name.
Activists first took to the streets against a now-withdrawn extradition bill, which would have sent suspects to face trial in mainland China, where Communist Party control over the courts results in a 99.9 per cent conviction rate.
But city leaders only backtracked on the bill earlier this month, a move protesters said was far too little, too late. By then, anger had grown significantly and demands escalated to include the resignation of Carrie Lam, the chief executive, and an independent inquiry into police handling.
The Halloween protests came as the UK released its twiceyearly report.
‘‘Protesters must end the violence. The police response must be proportionate in their handling of protesters and safeguard the right to peaceful protest,’’ wrote Dominic Raab, the Foreign Secretary, calling for ‘‘meaningful dialogue between all parties’’ in order to uphold the Sino-British Joint Declaration.
The agreement guarantees Hong Kong’s freedoms and unique way of life, and kicked in when the former British colony was returned to Beijing rule in 1997.
Earlier this month, the Hong
Kong government enacted an anti-mask order in efforts to contain the growing violence, with police saying the anonymity of masks incensed protesters to engage in radical violence.
For some, the Halloween fun was ruined by the phalanx of police.
‘‘It’s just ridiculous – we can’t get in,’’ said John, 34, wearing a headband that gave the illusion of a knife driven through his skull. ‘‘We just got here to have some fun.’’ –