Hong Kong’s first National Security Education Day since Beijing’s passing of the sweeping law was not without its own commemorative swag.
Sets of riot police figurines, holding various police flags reading exhortations like “WARNING TEAR SMOKE” and “DISPERSE OR WE FIRE” were on sale at the Hong Kong Police College Thursday, where officers staged a Chinese military-style parade and terrorism drills.
The palm-sized ornaments feature officers in green garb wielding guns, batons, police shields, and—as one might suspect—no warrant card.
No joke anymore. These ARE official HK Police merchandise. https://t.co/ooVAmes2QI
— Brandon 💉💉 (@b3108) April 15, 2021
One of the officers’ flags is the now-iconic purple national security flag, printed with a long, unwieldy statement that states that the banners being displayed, slogans being chanted or behavior with “intent such as secession or subversion” could be in breach of the controversial law.
The official website for the police force gift shop shows the collection of 18 police figurines, and a set with a police polo t-shirt and four flag-brandishing officer figurines, at a discounted price as “festive special offers.”
A Hong Kong Police Force teddy bear, complete with goggles and raptor gear, is also available for pre-order. (The bear does not appear to be new, however—one Instagram user posted a picture of the bear on Instagram earlier this year.)
Just in time for Natsec Education Day, a HKPF teddy bear—decked out in raptor gear and ready to kettle and violently subdue your other stuffed animals—can now be yours for just HK$488! They even come with a little Natsec warning banner: https://t.co/VCb6ChoytA h/t @nicolle_liu pic.twitter.com/IB0AKNgywG
— Hudson Lockett IV 康河信 (@KangHexin) April 15, 2021
Schools across Hong Kong organized flag-raising ceremonies and assemblies to mark National Security Education Day. Pro-democracy party League of Social Democrats held a four-person protest march in the morning, police surrounding the group as they walked from Wan Chai MTR station to the Convention and Exhibition Center.
