Dressed in traditional garb, the vampire was one of a handful of protesters from the Momentum 107 group on board the Island Line train to welcome puzzled passengers in an attempt to get their message across. "A competition law that exempts the government's own operation goes against the very spirit of the proposed law," the group's convener, Raymond Ho Man-kit, said.

"Instead of acting like they [the government] are above the law, they are simply legislating around their own interests."

Setting out at Tiu Keng Leng, Ho and his entourage made their way to the SAR Government Headquarters via train, with the Chinese vampire symbolizing the government's view of the public. Ho claimed there is no question the government's omission of its own activities from the proposal is out of self-interest.

A spokesman for the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau said the best way to ensure the public sector stays competitive is through administrative measures under existing competition policy rather than legislation.

The exemption of such activities will ensure they are not subject to "unfounded or misconceived complaints," he said.