type":"Thing","@id":"https://www.thestandard.com.hk/world-news"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":5,"name":"Comment","item":{"@type":"Thing","@id":"https://www.thestandard.com.hk/comment"}}]}]17:T632,

Yellow Factory, a local face mask manufacturer has suspended its business in Hong Kong after state-owned newspapers Ta Kung Pao and Wen Wei Po slammed the manufacturer for prolonging the idea of “Hong Kong independence”, in violation of the national security law.

The company announced on its Facebook today that their retail and online shops will be closed from Wednesday onwards.

“Yellowfactory does not intend to violate the national security law. With consideration of our staff and customers, we will make internal adjustments. From November 18 onward, the Causeway Bay and Mong Kok retail shops will suspend business temporarily,” the post read.

The reports published by Ta Kung Pao and Wen Wei Po on Monday said the manufacturer is “inciting hatred and tearing society apart,” quoting legal scholar Willy Fu saying that the pro-protest design of their masks may be in violation of the Beijing-imposed law, as well as sedition legislation.

The retail shops’ interior is decorated with protest icons such as a pro-democracy Lennon Wall message board.

HK face mask manufacturer halts business amid claims of its design violating the national security law