HOW TO THINK ABOUT IT
Law of the land. If Hong Kong’s Cabinet approves the Emergency Regulations Ordinance Friday, as multiple sources suggest, it could mark another significant escalation in the crisis. That’s because it’s been decades since the colonial-era law — which allows the government to impose curfews and carry out searches, among other sweeping powers — has been invoked. Chief Executive Carrie Lam has reportedly proposed limited use of the ordinance by applying it only to face masks, which have become both a practical fixture and a symbol of the movement. But both local pro-democracy lawmakers and foreign officials believe it’ll backfire.
“Be like water.” A nod to famous Hongkonger Bruce Lee, that’s the movement’s unofficial motto. It describes protesters’ guerilla strategy, aimed at evading police and adapting to their movements on the streets. But it’s been equally useful online: For example, when popular messaging app Telegram was attacked from mainland China, activists used Apple’s peer-to-peer AirDrop feature to pass notes back and forth. They’ve also adopted a sign language to broadcast any number of vital messages during tense situations, whether it’s to warn of danger or request more helmets.
Friends in high places. Activists in Hong Kong might also look to the mainland for inspiration since their web-savvy Chinese counterparts know well how to avoid Big Brother. Case in point: When the Chinese government cracked down on the #MeToo hashtag, users switched to the phrase “rice bunny” — pronounced mitu in Chinese. The only problem? Authorities got wise to that too, which suggests that Hong Kong’s authorities might easily do the same.
Rising rage. When Tsang Chi-kin was shot Tuesday during demonstrations designed to spoil Chinese celebrations marking the 70th anniversary of communist rule, it quickly galvanized fellow protesters. Now, in a move that’s likely to stir further anger, Tsang’s being charged with rioting and attacking police. As clashes grow more intense — this week’s violence was Hong Kong’s worst since the territory was returned to China by the U.K. — it remains unclear whether creativity alone can help the protesters. Police and their allies, who “believe they have been humiliated,” as one expert told The New York Times, have long lobbied for more powers. And as cops have stepped up their heavy-handed tactics, protesters have also become more brutal, taunting their uniformed opponents with chants like, “Families of dirty police deserve to die,” and even attacking officers’ homes.
Watch on the New York Times on YouTube
