November 01, 2019, 12:43 PM
Hong Kong protesters showed up for Halloween by donning various masks and makeup on Thursday, Oct. 31, despite the recent ban on masks in public assemblies.
Masks a hallmark of protests
Many mingled with party-goers in the bar and nightclub district of Lan Kwai Fong.
The venue plays host to large Halloween celebrations each year.
Masks are an integral part of protesters' gear -- even the peaceful ones -- as they take to the streets since protests started five months ago in response to a now-abandoned extradition bill.
The masks are worn to protect themselves, as protesters fear retribution should their identities exposed and spread online.
Protesters online have been encouraging one another to mark the occasion by putting on masks of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam and other political figures.
Here are some examples of the masks and fancy outfits they put on.
Expired tear gas canister
Great costume pic.twitter.com/XDs1oPHFz1
— Kris Cheng (@krislc) October 31, 2019
Regina Ip and Carrie Lam
Qipao-clad women posing as Regina Ip (labeled big sister) and Carrie Lam (labeled little sister) slap each other in what these revelers call a political struggle pic.twitter.com/0AajNE4ILU
— Tiffany May (@nytmay) October 31, 2019
More Carrie Lams
Another excellent cosplay😂#HappyHalloween pic.twitter.com/xeemIoKyO9
— 小白鼠先生😷 (@shiroihamusan) October 31, 2019
Captain America
Joker
More Jokers
Guy Fawkes
Xi Jinping
Police/Dog (with deliberate misspell of popular Chinese proverb on shield)
Image via Facebook
Random dude who looks like a deformed Michelin man from the original Ghostbusters
#HKPolice has stopped all forms of #Halloween19 party at LKF, but that won't stop this cool dude from breaking out a dance right in front of them. He adds "I really only wanted to go to LKF, but there's no entrance, just an exit" 🕺#StandWithHongKong #HongKongProtests pic.twitter.com/gYP4Xx7slI
— woppa 🎗😷 (@Woppa1Woppa) October 31, 2019
Party forcibly broken up
The festive spirit, however, did not last long.
Police broke up the party by cordoning off the area and firing tear gas into the crowd, forcibly dispersing them.
#NOW - Tear gas deployed in #central as officers moved onto Queen's Road Central. Some officers were caught off guard and suffered the effects too. #antielab #halloween2019 pic.twitter.com/EmAZWLNZMo
— Lok (@sumlokkei) October 31, 2019
BREAKING: police fire tear gas in Central at around 10pm, in an attempt to clear revellers and protesters from the business and entertainment district. #HongKong pic.twitter.com/32953dmZ1J
— Hong Kong Free Press HKFP (@hkfp) October 31, 2019
Lan Kwai Fong. Around 30 #HKPolice are here blocking people from entering the #halloween2019 party. Doraemon is not happy#StandWithHongKong #HongKongProtests pic.twitter.com/5DQSEjjwpR
— woppa 🎗😷 (@Woppa1Woppa) October 31, 2019
#LIVE: Halloween celebrators at Lan Kwai Fong say police have spoiled their day. “Return Lan Kwai Fong to me,” crowds chant in unison.
— Ezra Cheung (@ezracheungtoto) October 31, 2019
A lady who claims to be an apolitical person has told me that today’s encounter has made her think police are thugs. #antiELAB #HongKongProtests pic.twitter.com/KYK94tqBiJ
It is unclear if violent clashes happened between the police and protesters prior to them dispersing the crowd.
Police utilised pepper spray as well.
A man was sprayed with pepper spray point blank after asking where police's cordon line was pic.twitter.com/9sOQhzJdqB
— Chris Lau (@hkchrislau) October 31, 2019
Riot police officer sprayed a passerby and a journalist in the eyes, as the squad tried to clear press members, protesters and passers by from Argyle Street in Mong Kok. #HongKongPoliceState pic.twitter.com/53C5axcDbt
— Rachel Cheung (@rachel_cheung1) October 31, 2019
Police also tackled hecklers, such as this woman who shouted "Spray my beautiful ass" to them.
https://twitter.com/wbyeats1865/status/1189908309756612608
They tore down the makeshift memorial set up outside Prince Edward MTR station as well, removing the offerings of flowers and other tributes to Hongkongers who were suspected to be dead on the night of the August 31 crackdown.
#HKPolice are taking no chances with hauntings on #halloween2019 , destroying the Prince Edward MTR memorial site. They're led by Officer Tier III Pln 2, a unique ID to identi.. oh wait, his bff next to him as the same ID too. Never mind😑#StandWithHongKong #HongKongProtests pic.twitter.com/0Thy0RKavf
— woppa 🎗😷 (@Woppa1Woppa) October 31, 2019
Protesters also alleged that the MTR Corporation is in cahoots with the police to cover up the deaths by not releasing full, unedited surveillance footage of the station that night.
In addition, they fired tear gas at those who gathered there to mark the second month anniversary since the crackdown happened.
Too early for Halloween? Police have fired tear gas at Prince Edward where protesters were gathering to mark the 2nd month after the 831 incident. Police are warning they would use force and make arrests pic.twitter.com/bCVlvCPP1q
— Chris Lau (@hkchrislau) October 31, 2019
But not everyone was affected, such as this man who continued drinking his beer even though a pepper ball projectile just landed on the ground next to him.
More rounds of pepperball fired at a crowd. And look at the man standing there undeterred with a carlsberg in his hand, though pepperball literally landed right next to his feet. pic.twitter.com/14wvy3uUyI
— Rachel Cheung (@rachel_cheung1) October 31, 2019
What a night.
More on Hong Kong:
Top image adapted via Stand News
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