Wear Dog Collar, Can Protest in HK

Police stipulate no masks and wear numbered tags to protest

To hold a protest in Hong Kong in a post-national security law environment is getting harder and more outrageous.

A group of homeowners in Tseung Kwan O want to hold a rally protesting the proposed reclamation for building "obnoxious facilities", such as garbage collection stations.

While the group did get the green light from the police to hold the protest, they need to meet some requirements -- not to wear masks, but wear tags around their necks to "prevent criminals from mixing".

The days of mass protests are over in Hong Kong

Bad elements are going to hijacks a protest about refuse collection stations?

First the authorities think this protest is going to get out of hand and wants to be able to identify everyone for filming purposes;

Not only that, the protesters need to wear number tags around their necks like animals to certify they are legitimate rabble rousers. 

Oh and don't violate the national security law -- even though it's not clearly spelled out.

If the protest goes ahead on Sunday it will be the first since the government lifted all Covid-19 restrictions including social distancing and the mask mandate.

About 100 people are expected at the upcoming protest, with the stipulation that no one can join half way through. The unusual restrictions are particularly stringent for organiser Cyrus Chan Chin-chun.

"If you ask me whether or not I like those terms, the answer must be negative," Chan said. "There is nothing else I can do but fulfil such requests."

Police claim bad elements will join protests...

Earlier this month the Hong Kong Women Workers' Association had permission to hold a march to mark International Women's Day, but it was suddenly cancelled and the rights group didn't explain why.

After the march was called off, the police said they had intelligence that many people, including violent gangs would attend the march.

In addition, League of Social Democrats said four of its members who were going to join the rally were warned by national security police not to go, a day before the organisers cancelled the protest march.

If Sunday's protest does go ahead it could become the template for future marches... where the brave willing to stick out their necks with dog collars will shout a few slogans, hoping they don't violate national security and then go home hoping for the best.

Imagine trying to enforce these protest rules on people in France or Israel, the United Kingdom or the United States?

But this is sadly Hong Kong's new reality.