Firefighters have removed an enormous banner that was unfurled on a prominent Hong Kong hillside echoing pro-democracy protesters’ calls for the right to choose their leaders.
The black banner — measuring 10 meters by three meters — read “Oppose institutional violence, I want true universal suffrage.” It was spotted hanging from the face of Lion Rock facing Lung Cheung Road this morning.
Apple Daily reports that police received a report of the banner at 8am, and that firefighters arrived at the scene at about 10am to remove it. The banner was taken down at around 11:20am.
Unfurling massive political banners from Hong Kong’s many prominent hillsides has long been a favored tactic of pro-democracy activists, and the practice has only picked up steam with the current pro-democracy movement rocking the city.
In May, the political party League of Social Democrats unfurled a banner on Beacon Hill that read “Carrie Lam, you better resign,” and another on Fei Ngo Shan that read “Oppose the evil send-to-China law.”
Both banners were in response to the controversial extradition bill that sparked Hong Kong’s months-long protest movement. While the bill has been suspended, the movement’s demands have since expanded to include an independent investigation into police’s use of force, and universal suffrage in electing the city’s leader.
Under Hong Kong’s Basic Law, the chief executive is currently selected by a small body of pro-establishment electors.
