From Flash Mob and Laser Shows to Lennon Walls: How Hong Kongers Sustained 100 Days of Protests With Creativity
From Flash Mob and Laser Shows to Lennon Walls: How Hong Kongers Sustained 100 Days of Protests With Creativity
From laser pen light shows, to flashmob singalongs and human chains, we look at some of the inventive methods embraced by a movement in Hong Kong that shows no signs of abating.

With Hong Kong shaken by 100 days of huge pro-democracy protests, activists have adopted a host of creative ways to fuel their movement away from the barricades.

From laser pen light shows, to flashmob singalongs and human chains, we look at some of the inventive methods embraced by a movement that shows no signs of abating.

Flashmob Singalongs 

Music has long played a prominent role in Hong Kong's years of democracy rallies. The tune that received the most traction early on in this summer's protests was the catchy Christian hymn "Sing Hallelujah to the Lord" as well as "Do you hear the people sing?" from the musical "Les Miserables".

A police officer chases a flashmob inside Hong Kong International Airport, Hong Kong, China September 1, 2019. (Image: REUTERS)

But in the last fortnight a new anthem has been embraced with gusto. "Glory to Hong Kong" was written by an anonymous composer and has gone viral, its defiant lyrics repeatedly belted out at protests, nightly flashmob concerts in city malls and even football matches.

Laser Shows

Laser pointers were initially used by frontline protesters to indicate police positions, distract officers and stop people from taking photos or videos.

Demonstrators use laser pointers during a protest in Hong Kong, China August 31, 2019. (Image: REUTERS)

But they were adopted en masse after a student leader with 10 laser pens in his bag was arrested for possession of an offensive weapon.

Since then demonstrators have held "lightshows" outside of police stations and at most public gatherings, lending the protests a somewhat surreal disco-vibe once the sun sets.

Human Chains

Human chains were first adopted in late August on the 30th anniversary of the Baltic Way, when more than a million people linked arms in huge anti-Soviet Union demonstrations.

Protesters hold hands to form a human chain during a rally to call for political reforms at the Avenue of Stars in Hong Kong, China, August 23, 2019. (Image: REUTERS)

The symbol caught on. Tens of thousands have taken part in human chains across the city in recent weeks, some formed on top of famous hills such as the Peak and Lion Rock. Secondary school students have also formed them each morning before classes.

Crowd-funding

Several online crowd-funding campaigns have been hugely successful.

Two campaigns raised over HK$21 million ($2.7 million) to place adverts in major international newspapers.

"By placing ads internationally, we can break through the filter of the media and show the world the truth underneath the government propaganda," a campaign co-organiser, who gave his name as Taylor, told AFP.

Other campaigns have raised money to build a four-metre-tall statue called "Lady Liberty Hong Kong" and to provide defence funds for the some 1,400 people arrested.

Lennon Walls

Plastered in colourful sticky-notes, posters and slogans, "Lennon Walls" have sprung up in more than a hundred locations across the city, often in pedestrian tunnels or near subway stations.

Memos and posters over anti-extradition bill are seen on "Lennon Walls" at Tai Po in Hong Kong, China August 9, 2019. (Image: REUTERS)

The first Hong Kong wall appeared during huge pro-democracy protests in 2014 and was a local take on a public graffiti wall in Prague that appeared after the 1980 murder of John Lennon.

When crowds of government supporters tore down a Lennon Wall outside the city's parliament early on in this summer's protests, democracy activists simply created new ones in their local neighbourhoods. Walls are still being torn down by opponents but they reappear within hours.

10pm Chanting

Hong Kongers have taken to shouting protest slogans from their apartments each night at 10pm, inspired by cacerolazos, a form of protest that emerged in authoritarian Chile during the 1970s and has since been adopted by multiple dissent movements.

People chant as they gather during a protest at New Town Plaza shopping mall in Hong Kong, China September 11, 2019. (Image: REUTERS)

In a city renowned for the highest concentration of skyscrapers in the world, the chanting is particularly effective, with popular slogans such as "Liberate Hong Kong, revolution now" and "No rioters, only tyranny" bouncing off buildings and echoing through neighbourhoods.

Mooncakes

Traditionally given during the mid-autumn festival, these dense pastries have been given a protest makeover. One bakery has sold tens of thousands of cakes which sport popular protest slogans on their crusts.

An employee takes a tray of mooncakes with anti-extradition bill slogans out of the oven at Wah Yee Tang Bakery in Hong Kong, China July 12, 2019. (Image: REUTERS)

Protest Art

Painting, calligraphy, comic strips, sculptures -- Hong Kongers have been working around the clock to provide an artistic backdrop to their protests.

Much of the art is distributed in a highly modern fashion -- shared on online forums or pinged to people's phones using Bluetooth and Airdrop.

Memos and posters over anti-extradition bill are seen on "Lennon Walls" at Tai Po in Hong Kong, China August 9, 2019. (Image: REUTERS)

It is not unusual for someone's phone to receive multiple digital flyers and posters each day, especially on the subway.

Soon the same artworks are printed and placed on the city's Lennon Walls, which have become a constantly evolving canvas of dissent.

Flags

Small groups of protesters have waved the flags of Britain, colonial era Hong Kong and the United States.

But by far the most common flag is the "wilted bauhinia" -- a twist on Hong Kong's official flag, a white bauhinia flower on a red backdrop.

Demonstrators wave black Hong Kong flags in support of anti-government protesters at a football World Cup qualifier match between Hong Kong and Iran on September 10. (Image: REUTERS)

The new flag has turned the backdrop black, to reflect the mood of the streets, and the bauhinia flower is wilted and blood-stained.

Australian-based Chinese dissident artist Badiucao, who draws daily cartoons for the protest movement, has also created a flag of rainbow-coloured squares, meant to symbolise the Lennon Walls.

Another popular emblem directed at Beijing is dubbed "Chinazi" -- a red flag with yellow stars in the shape of a swastika.

'Be Water'

Inventiveness has been a core principle of the protests themselves with the phrase "Be water" commonly chanted.

The slogan references a philosophy of unpredictability espoused by local kung fu legend Bruce Lee and encourages protesters to keep mobile in a bid to stretch police resources and avoid mass arrests.

The staue of martial arts artist Bruce Lee is seen in front of the skyline at the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront in Hong Kong, China, August 27, 2019. (Image: REUTERS)

Protesters have also found creative ways to hold rallies that are banned, portraying them instead as opportunities to go window shopping, hold picnics or gather for religious meetings.

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