Why are reflective vests and banners seen as banned arms? The police aren’t telling
Hong Kong police have passed over media questions about why reflective vests and banners seized from a pro-democracy restaurant this week are deemed to be banned arms or suited for illicit use.
Officers on Friday night arrested two men in charge of a restaurant in Mong Kok on suspicion of possessing prohibited weapons and items “fit for unlawful purposes,” seizing batons, helmets, gas masks and reflective masks. The pair were released on bail early the next morning.
Later on Saturday, reporters asked police multiple times as to why those items were considered “prohibited weapons” or “fit for unlawful purposes,” but received no direct answers.
Billy Ching, assistant district commander of Mong Kok’s crime division, only stressed that the arrests were part of an anti-crime operation targeting bars and restaurants with liquor licenses, to check that social distancing rules were observed.
Ching dodged two reporters’ queries on what slogans were written on the banners and why they were also taken as prohibited weapons, only saying that the case was under investigation.
The restaurant in question, Jie Genge, is known for supporting the pro-democracy movement. Its person in charge, Ivan Wong, said part of the items had been left behind by customers and did not belong to the store. He added that they would not go through diners’ belongings and explained the helmets were meant for industrial purposes.
Wong also wondered why police suddenly searched the premises when their operation was aimed at social distancing violations.
Jie Genge remained open for business on Saturday. One customer said she was visiting it in support after seeing the police’s arrests on Friday.
“It’s completely unreasonable and outrageous. The police are just doing whatever they like,” said the customer, who gave her surname as Wu.
Another woman, who had waited in line for half an hour, also expressed anger at the arrests.
“Just because they are a ‘yellow’ restaurant doesn’t mean they should be targeted,” she said, referring to the color label given to businesses that supported the pro-democracy movement.
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