- Title: Hong Kong artist offers free protest-themed tattoo
- Date: 27th August 2019
- Summary: HONG KONG, CHINA (FILE - JULY 28, 2019) (REUTERS) PROTESTERS USING UMBRELLAS AS SHIELDS, ATTEMPTING TO PUT OUT TEAR GAS
- Embargoed: 10th September 2019 08:27
- Keywords: Hong Kong China tattoo protest Bauhinia umbrella inking
- Location: HONG KONG, CHINA
- City: HONG KONG, CHINA
- Country: Hong Kong
- Topics: Editors' Choice
- Reuters ID: LVA002ATZRUX3
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Ongoing protest and violent crackdowns has clouded Hong Kong over the past few months since June, as youngsters took to the streets and battle with riot police relentlessly.
For some Hong Kongers, the fight is growing bigger and is becoming an iconic symbol of restraint against superpower. So, they are now engraving the fight onto their skins as a remembrance.
With his popular geometric design of the umbrella and bauhinia flower, 28-year old tattoo artist Zada Lam said he has given over 200 people the protest-themed tattoo since it all started in June - and for free.
"The idea is the umbrella is protecting the flower and Hong Kong," Lam said, who currently serves two customers each day.
For one of Lam's customer, the tattoo is a reminder for what they are fighting for in the past two months.
"It is like the core value of Hong Kong people, once we decide, we stay persistent and hold the same beliefs," said the customer who refused to be named.
Last weekend's protests saw some of the fiercest clashes yet between police and demonstrators since protests escalated in mid-June over a now-suspended extradition bill that would have allowed Hong Kong people to be sent to mainland China for trial.
The city's embattled leader said the government has zero tolerance on the escalating violence after police fired water cannon and volleys of tear gas in running battles with protesters who threw bricks and petrol bombs.
The Chinese-ruled city is grappling with its biggest political crisis since its handover to Beijing in 1997 and Communist Party authorities have sent a clear warning that forceful intervention is possible to quell the violence.
"Just like the idea of tattooing there is no chance to regret," said the client.
(Production: Ebrahim Harris, Stefica Nicol Bikes, Joyce Zhou, Juarawee Kittisilpa) - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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