Protest of any kind is forbidden during the visit of China’s top Hong Kong official Xia Baolong, according to police, with cops actively polling known activists (including yours truly) to find out if they have any such plans.
Here’s how I found out: this afternoon, out of the blue, I had a call from Kowloon West Regional Police Headquarters asking if I had any plans for any protests, marches or processions from 22 to 28 February, the dates of an “inspection visit” by the Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the China Communist Party (CCP).
I told them I had no such plans, although I said we did have a “Critical Mass” monthly bike ride planned on Hong Kong Island for Saturday afternoon. While I’d rather not bring such attention to Critical Mass, my thinking was it’s better not to surprise a government so fragile – I’d hate for my on-off tail (yes I am still being tailed at least once or twice a month) to think the group ride was some sort of political gathering. The cop on the phone said that’s OK: “Biking is a healthy activity,” he said. Indeed.
But any other activity is verboten: I asked the cop if any protest WOULD be allowed on those 22-28 February visit dates – I have a laundry list of grievances regarding road safety and local environment I’d love to air to our esteemed visitor.
“No,” said the officer. “It is not allowed.”
So there you go. Fresh faces and clean paint for the inspection visit.
I’m not going to test their resolve: state media took a very dim view of my last attempt to message Xia Baolong, to the point I don't even have any campaign materials left. That’s a lie, I do still have a Pedestrianise QRC banner, which is staying safely rolled up in the wardrobe for the next seven days.
Thanks for the heads-up. Really sad that Hong Kong, like china, is now a Potemkin village.