Read on Twitter
#NOW HK Alliance opened their booths in the CNY flower fair in Victoria Park at dawn despite a midnight contract termination from the government - 1st in 32yrs - due to “display of irrelevant objects”, which refer to their banners for redressing 6.4 and democracy in China.
HK Alliance said the political banners at their booth are not “irrelevant” becuz their flowers have different meanings eg
Strelitzia means liberty
Sunflower shared destiny
Cactus fighting tgt
Hydrangea “five demands”
Carnation Tiananmen mothers
Strelitzia means liberty
Sunflower shared destiny
Cactus fighting tgt
Hydrangea “five demands”
Carnation Tiananmen mothers
“If what we want to say is considered irrelevant to selling flowers, what does ‘Kung Hei Fat Choi’ (wishing you luck and wealth) have to do with selling flowers?” said HK Alliance leader Lee Cheuk-yan.
KHFC is a phrase of best wishes widely used during CNY as well as at the fair
KHFC is a phrase of best wishes widely used during CNY as well as at the fair
Without consulting Richard Tsoi, who bid the booth on behalf of HK Alliance, FEHD officers put two notices on the booth at 8pm-ish and midnight ystd, first urging them to remove the “irrelevant objects” and then terminating the contract.
Four metal barriers were brought close to HK Alliance’s booth by a few officers around 8am nit no further action so far.
Members of HK Alliance are sitting in front of their booth, waiting for officers to come.
#BREAKING A dozen of FEHD officers moved a number of metal barriers to surround the booths of HK Alliance.
The leading FEHD officer said he had to contact his superior and the enclosure of the booths with metal barrier can be left half done meanwhile. The CNY fair is supposed to open at 9am.
After a few mins, the leading officer returned with his colleagues and told the HK Alliance members that he had to execute the order. Meanwhile his colleagues moved the metal barriers to complete the enclosure.
HK Alliance members remain behind the barriers moved to put their banner on the barriers which says “Redress June 4, Justice Must Prevail”
“We do not recognise the decision made by their frontline officers. We still stay here and our booth will remain open,” said HK Alliance Lee Cheuk-yan. Lee said they welcome people to visit their booth and buy flowers after fair opens at 9am.
It’s 9am. HK Alliance Richard Tsoi announced opening of their booth and welcomed visitors to come over.
“If I can afford I will buy all your flowers,” the first customer approached HK Alliance’s booth said. He hasn’t decided what to buy tho.
FEHD officers returned again and demanded HK Alliance to leave.
FEHD officers refused to explain or negotiate. They demanded HK Alliance to leave immediately and said if they have questions, they should call FEHD’s news group.
HK Alliance said they would remove their flowers and leave as FEHD does not allow them to sell flowers. “Our banners have been the same in the past 3 decades but now they are not allowed so what has changed in HK,” Lee Cheuk-yan said.
The two FEHD officers leading the operation to expel HK Alliance from the CNY flower fair did not wear their officer number badge like their colleagues. But these are the walkie-talkie they used:
