Hong Kong protesters raise blank papers to avoid slogans banned under security law

Record ID: 1560976

  • Title: Hong Kong protesters raise blank papers to avoid slogans banned under security law
  • Date: 6th July 2020
  • Summary: HONG KONG, CHINA (JUNE 6, 2020) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF DEMONSTRATORS HOLDING BLANK, WHITE PAPERS TO AVOID SLOGANS BANNED UNDER THE NATIONAL SECURITY LAW VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS HOLDING WHITE PAPERS / CROSS ON FACE MASK REPRESENTING VIOLATION OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH (SOUNDBITE) (Cantonese) 50-YEAR-OLD MR. LEUNG, SAYING: ''These slogans will always be in my heart and those words will always stay on white paper, which will never disappear. They can silence us, create white terror, and let us censor ourselves but our heart will never die.'' VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS PUTTING BLANK STICKY NOTES ON FLOOR PROTESTERS CHANTING (Cantonese): '' LIBERATE HONG KONG, REVOLUTION OF OUR TIMES'' BABY TOY WITH BLANK STICKY NOTES ON VARIOUS OF DEMONSTRATORS HOLDING WHITE PAPERS TO AVOID SLOGANS BANNED UNDER THE NATIONAL SECURITY LAW VARIOUS OF MAN HOLDING BANNER READING (Chinese): 'WITHOUT COMMUNIST PARTY, THERE IS NO NEW CHINA / WITHOUT PARTY, HOW DO WE HAVE COUNTRY / WITHOUT COUNTRY, HOW DO WE HAVE FAMILY / RISE UP, THOSE WHO DON'T WANT TO BE SLAVES, LET'S PROTECT COMMUNIST PARTY, BUILDING HONG KONG OF OUR TIME" (SOUNDBITE) (Cantonese) 78-YEAR-OLD DEMONSTRATOR, GEORGE LAM, SAYING: ''During the Cultural Revolution the party was said to be subverted and in 1989 Zhao Ziyang was said to split the party, but the country has never been tried to split. So I think the party is more vulnerable than the country. I think people should stand up and change the party first. Only by reforming the party can we build the new country and build a democratic Hong Kong. Then we can liberate Hong Kong.'' VARIOUS OF RIOT POLICE ARRIVING VARIOUS OF POLICE DOING STOP AND SEARCH
  • Embargoed: 20th July 2020 08:54
  • Keywords: Beijing China Hong Kong national security law protest
  • Location: HONG KONG, CHINA
  • City: HONG KONG, CHINA
  • Country: Hong Kong
  • Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Civil Unrest
  • Reuters ID: LVA001CLO6S7B
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Dozens of demonstrators participated in a regular lunchtime protest on Monday (July 6), raising blank pieces of white paper to avoid slogans banned under the new national security law.
    The sweeping legislation punishes crimes related to secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces, with punishments of up to life in prison.
    The day after the law came into effect, a man was arrested for carrying a Hong Kong independence flag.
    On Friday (July 3), the local government declared the slogan "Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times" illegal. And a man who allegedly drove a motorcycle into police officers during a protest and carrying a flag with that message has been charged with acts relating to terrorism and incitement of separatism.
    Along with the blank pages, protesters also placed down empty sticky notes to represent their demands.
    "These slogans will always be in my heart and those words will always stay on white paper, which will never disappear,'" said Mr. Leung, who declined to give his full name.
    (Production: Joyce Zhou)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2020. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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