Protest materials come off the menu

Fear of the national security law has spread to "yellow" restaurants as police have warned an eatery to take down its protest-related material.

Officers told Bowl and Plate noodle restaurant on Shau Kei Wan Main Street East yesterday that its Lennon Wall and other decorations were suspected of breaching the security law.

Shortly afterward, the restaurant suspended its business and removed relevant materials.

Owner Mr Koo refused to comment when contacted by The Standard.

Gordon Lam Shui-wa, convener of the Hong Kong Small and Middle Restaurants Federation, said he understood it was the only restaurant police had warned so far.

Eastern District councillor Andy Chui Chi-kin wrote on Facebook that the incident is a reflection of white terror.

"While some won't see a problem with the decorations, others may report them due to a different political stance," he said.

Dine Inn restaurant in Jordan also removed its Lennon Wall and other protest-related decorations yesterday.

"We saw people being arrested and thought it was about time to take the decorations off on our own," a restaurant employee said, referring to those who were arrested on Wednesday for possessing and presenting flags, banners and stickers with slogans such as "Hong Kong independence."

Albert Chen Hung-yee, Basic Law Committee member and professor at the University of Hong Kong, said a banner carrying sensitive words may not be enough proof to show someone is inciting secession.

On a radio program, Chen said it is a gray area whether people can chant the popular protest slogan: "Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times."

He said there are no provisions in the law that directly target chanting, possessing and presenting slogans.

Referring to Article 29, Chen said that any unlawful means to provoke Hong Kong residents' hatred toward Beijing or the SAR government may be regarded as offenses.

However, hatred toward police, provoked by the August 31 Prince Edward station incident where police allegedly indiscriminately attacked passengers, would only partially fit the article's description, he said.

But Tam Yiu-chung, Hong Kong's sole delegate to the National People's Congress, said the "liberate Hong Kong" slogan is deemed problematic.

On a separate radio program, Tam said he found the true meaning of the slogan questionable and the use of the word "liberate" should be avoided due to its "negative" implication.

Tam said possessing a flag with independence-related messages is a breach of the new law on the surface, but it still depends on the motive and intent.

Meanwhile, Democratic Party lawmaker James To Kun-sun said: "If one just keeps one flag with a Hong Kong independence message instead of a massive amount, it is not an offense under the International Bill of Human Rights."