Hong Kong (AsiaNews) – China has decided to ban the export of black clothing and fabrics to Hong Kong, which have been used in the former British colony by anti-government protesters and pro-democracy activists for over 4 months.
The South China Morning Post reports that exports from neighbouring Guangdong to the city are now closely monitored.
Courier companies now warn Hong Kong customers that Chinese customs are stopping the delivery of black fabrics and other items worn by protesters, like black shirt, jeans, sneakers, often with a black mask.
According to Guangdong courier company PHXBUY, Chinese customs now require courier companies to halt delivery of a list of items that include yellow helmets, yellow umbrellas, flags, flagpoles, poster banners, gloves, masks, black T-shirts, metal rods, fluorescent tubes, and bludgeon clubs.
“We cannot take delivery of the above products … Thank you for supporting us,” reads the notice that appears when ordering these items online.
The protest movement is now into its 20th week. It started in June aimed at stopping a bill that would have allowed the extradition of suspects to mainland China.
The Hong Kong government scrapped the bill in early September, but in the meantime the protest movement increased its demands, asking for full democracy and an investigation into excessive police use of force.
The government’s wall of silence and the increasingly violent police repression have led to more violent clashes with the more radical elements within the movement who are adopting an urban guerrilla style of action.
