One of the last ‘Lennon Wall’ pro-democracy boards to be removed by year’s end
One of the last pro-democracy message boards in Hong Kong will be removed by the end of the month in a move that many called a reflection of the city’s tightening freedoms.
The so-called Lennon Wall boards blossomed in many districts across the city amid last year’s protest movement, but many were removed following the enactment of the national security law.
One of the few remaining boards is being hosted by a pro-democracy shop at the Kwai Chung Plaza shopping mall. The Lennon Wall, which features protest-related comics, will be up until Dec. 31, when the shop’s tenancy ends
The shop owner, identified as Ho, told Apple Daily that local artists had contacted him to use the Lennon Wall for drawings to preserve memories of the protests. Ho, who had been unsuccessful in trying to renew the tenancy contract, urged Hongkongersto write comments on the board and enjoy their freedom of speech one last time.
On Saturday, the Kwai Chung Lennon Wall showcased a new comic illustration featuring various protest-related characters and iconography. However, there were also signs that some pro-democracy artwork had been removed.
A nearby resident, who gave his name as Chow, said it was sad that the Lennon Wall would be gone soon. He took photos of the board and said he would leave a message even though he believed it would soon be destroyed.
Other residents said the removal of the board reflected Hong Kong’s tightening freedom of speech. The mall’s refusal to renew the tenancy and keep the board up was a kind of suppression, one resident said.
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