Be Water, My Friend (Part 4)

TRIGGER WARNING: some viewers may find the following content (violence, blood) distressing. “Be Water, My Friend� is the fourth zine about the Hong Kong protests. Compiled using online sources; we do not claim ownership of any visuals. Credit list is available on issuu. Please contact Instagram@6amprojects for printable PDF version.

“Empty your mind. Be formless, shapeless, like water. Now you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup; put it into a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Water can flow, or creep, or drip, or crash. Be water, my friend.”

Bruce Lee “A famed Bruce Lee philosophy has become a mantra for Hong Kong’s leaderless anti-government protests. “Be water” was once known only among fans of the kung fu superstar. Now the saying has been adopted by protesters to keep the police on their toes, as they demand accountability and democracy. For protesters, “be water” means being anonymous, spontaneous, flexible and also evasive—just like the flow of water.”

Viola Zhou & Alan Wong / Inkstone

“For five months, Hong Kong has seen waves of massive protests and violence in the streets. And for five months, the local authorities, with the backing of Beijing, have responded in increasingly draconian ways—from wielding batons and firing lethal shots at protesters to jailing them on rioting charges—that have succeeded mostly in inflaming public sentiment. The situation has devolved into a stalemate, featuring escalating protests and brutal clashes between police and demonstrators. The question on everyone’s mind is if and when the Chinese government will resort to more aggressive means—including use of the military—to end the unrest for good.”

Michael Davis & Victoria Hui / Foreign Affairs

July 31 Wednesday

“China’s military released a three minute video [on Weibo] showing troops carrying out drills and cracking down on protestors in what appears to be a warning aimed at Hong Kong. The video was shown at a reception [on August 1] in Hong Kong to celebrate the 92nd anniversary of the People’s Liberation Army.”

Hillary Leung / TIME

“The message accompanying the PLA video reads: The Hong Kong Garrison of PLA is an important manifestation of national sovereignty; it is an important force in the protection of “one country, two systems”; it is an important foundation in protecting the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong! What are we doing? We are focused on preparing for war, practicing the art of killing the enemy, our bows and swords always at the ready!”

David Bandurski / China Media Project

“A soldier carrying a machine gun shouts in Cantonese through a loudhailer that “all consequences are at your own risk.”

The footage cuts to advancing soldiers armed with shields, with a red warning flag that says “Warning. Stop charging or we use force.’’ The flag looks very much like the type used by the Hong Kong police.

A battered vehicle that resembles a Hong Kong taxi is seen in a simulated street combat scene. Weapons and military vehicles are displayed, blowing up various targets.”

The Standard

August 4 Sunday “Demonstrators dodged police tear gas and occupied a major shopping district and other central areas, in the second of three straight days of large-scale civil disobedience. The flash mob-style maneuvers came a day after violent street clashes [on August 3], resulting in more than 20 arrests, and a day before a planned citywide strike.”

Mike Ives / The New York Times

“Earlier, protesters blocked roads, first in Kennedy Town and then in Causeway Bay. This followed from stand-offs in Sheung Wan as police also used tear gas on a crowd advancing towards Beijing’s liaison office.

In the afternoon, tens of thousands took to the streets of Tseung Kwan O in an approved march. Hundreds then gathered outside the police station, throwing bricks and pelting the building with eggs, prompting a police warning before they dispersed themselves. The chaos comes a day after clashes in the shopping hubs of Mong Kok and Tsim Sha Tsui, as well as in the working-class residential district of Wong Tai Sin, where tear gas was used by police.”

South China Morning Post

“The protesters are trying to use up the energy of the police.

We don’t want anyone to be arrested or hurt any more, so we didn’t stay in set places. We can be more flexible.”

Yan, protester via The Guardian

August 5 Monday City-wide Strike “Anyone who thought that the antigovernment demonstrations rocking Hong Kong this summer were just the doing of radicalized youngsters should think again. The first general strike in the city in about 50 years brought the territory to a near-halt. Hong Kong’s labor laws allow strikes only against one’s employer, not for general political causes. Yet the Confederation of Hong Kong Trade Unions announced that more than 350,000 people participated, calling in sick or taking the day off.”

Ilaria Maria Sala / The New York Times

“More than 2,300 aviation workers joined the strike, according to the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions, leading to the cancellation of 224 flights to and from one of the world's busiest airports.”

Helen Regan / CNN

“As the weekend of guerrilla protests across [at least eight] districts of the city gave way to the start of the regular work week, protesters coordinated actions to paralyze train lines and block roads. Train service was disrupted across all major lines as protesters prevented train doors from closing and occupied platforms.”

Mary Hui / Quartz

“A motorist kept going around a roundabout and said ‘my motorcycle is broken, it can’t go straight, so I must go around. Hong Kong’s situation is the same. (How long have you been doing this?) For as long as Hong Kong hasn’t made any progress.”

Francesca Chiu via Twitter

“Following a morning of transport disruption, Hong Kong protesters launched a full-swing non-cooperation movement, evolving into clashes with multiple rounds of tear gas fired by police in at least seven districts.

At North Point in the evening, a group of men with poles attacked demonstrators, leading to a street brawl.”

South China Morning Post

“Many of the clashes broke out in densely populated residential areas, where homes of the elderly and residents of public housing were exposed to large amounts of tear gas. As the night deepened, riot police shot tear gas at protesters from rooftops in some areas while protesters screamed curses at them from below.”

Alice Su / Los Angeles Times

“[Around 10 p.m. at Sham Shui Po], a journalist was hit in his left eye by a tear gas canister after officers fired several rounds into residents.

Bleeding badly on his left eye.”

Phila Siu via Twitter / South China Morning Post “At around 11p.m. [at Tsuen Wan], a group of 30 to 40 white-clad men attacked protesters and journalists with sticks and some with knives... a young man who had reportedly been beaten up and cut three times on his head, arm and leg was hospitalised and received treatment to repair a tendon in his arm.”

Kris Cheng / Hong Kong Free Press

“After learning of the violence, another video showed protesters chasing after a white-shirted man and subduing him on a floor and attacking him. Police officers arrived 20 minutes after the ambulance, but by then the white-clad men had fled. Officers did not chase the men, but instead dispersed the black-shirt protesters in the area.”

Almen Chui / Asia Times

“At Tuesday’s press conference, police revealed that they fired some 800 tear gas rounds that day—almost as many as the 1,000 rounds they said they had fired throughout the whole of the last two months.

Riot police also discharged 140 rubber bullets and 20 sponge rounds.

148 people were arrested, consisting of 95 males and 53 females, aged between 13 and 63-years-old.”

BBC

August 6 Tuesday Sham Shui Po

“The president of the Baptist University's Student Union, Keith Fong, was arrested on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon on Tuesday, after police said he was carrying 10 laser pointers in Sham Shui Po. Four plainclothes officers surrounding Fong and shouting at him, accusing him of trying to escape when they approached him. Fong says he only tried to run away as he didn’t know who they were. He repeatedly asks the officers why he is being held.”

RTHK

“Hand-held laser pointers are being used by protesters to confuse police officers, scramble facial recognition cameras and deter people from taking photos amid political turmoil. But Hong Kong police have come out against the tactic, saying it could be potentially damaging to their officers’ eyes and skin.”

Adam Jacobson / CBC News

“The Sham Shui Po police station in Hong Kong was besieged by more than 300 people after a student leader was arrested in the district, prompting police to fire tear gas to try to disperse the crowd. Several rounds of tear gas were fired at around 11:20 p.m. to disperse the crowd.�

The Straits Times

August 7 Wednesday Tsim Sha Tsui

“On Wednesday night, protesters gathered at the Space Museum’s planetarium and pretended to set the building and trees outside on fire using the lasers. They chanted “fire, fire, not on fire”, as they pointed dozens of laser beams at the outside wall of the building. In a trolling homage to Tuesday’s arrest, protesters also held up a pro-Beijing newspaper, pointing dozens of laser beams at it in an attempt to set it on fire, without success...

...The gathering later evolved into a party and carnival with singing, dancing, and hand-shadow puppet shows projected on to the side of the planetarium, a far cry from the tense atmosphere of the recent mass protests against the increasing encroachment of Beijing on the city’s freedoms. Soon, footage emerged of the night’s festivities to background music from Star Wars, creating a montage that made it look as though the protesters were rebel fighters shooting down the airships of the evil empire.”

Christy Choi / The Guardian

“Tonight was something we all needed: no tears, no blood, just laughter, song, and dance. I’ll be revisiting this thread next time I come home with the smell of tear gas still clinging to me and screams ringing in my ears. This is the city we love. This is why we do it.”

Ryan Ho via Twitter

August 11 Sunday

“Hong Kong authorities deployed more aggressive tactics during the 10th straight weekend of protests against Beijing’s increasing grip over the city, with riot police videotaped beating demonstrators in subway stations and officers going undercover to infiltrate the group and make arrests. protesters used flash mobs across the city, surrounding police stations, disrupting traffic, and hurling projectiles including bricks and petrol bombs. Police responded with tear gas and rubber bullets at various locations—including inside a metro station for the first time.”

Venus Fong & Sheryl Lee / Bloomberg

“Police had stormed the Tai Koo MTR station on Sunday night, forcefully arresting protesters, with footage showing the well-known “grandmother” Alexandra Wong, 63, a persistent figure at democracy protests, waving a giant Union Jack flag since June, knocked to the ground. Riot police rushed down the escalators, beating protesters with batons. Tear gas was fired at close range at a crowd of protesters at the top of the escalator.”

Kirsty Needham / The Sydney Morning Herald

“A group of plainclothes officers, disguised as protesters, launched a surprise operation to arrest protesters outside SOGO department store in Causeway Bay. At least a dozen were arrested. The officers refused to answer reporters’ questions on their identity.”

Hong Kong Free Press “Police officers were seen kicking the protester as he lay on the ground, his face pressed against a pool of his blood...The police operation was conducted without warning, and many of the protesters were gathered on the street peacefully.”

Holmes Chan / Hong Kong Free Press

“I understand, don’t press me, I’m sorry.

I’ve already been arrested by you, I understand.

Don’t do this, I beg you.”

“News footage by broadcaster TVB showed two men in black helping an officer tie the hands of a suspect. One of the men wore a yellow helmet, gear commonly used by protesters. A few men in black clothes and gas or face masks were seen holding batons and standing behind riot police.

“Asked by journalists in the video if they were officers, a man’s voice is heard saying: “The Police Public Relations Branch will get back to you later.”

“We are working now. Do not disturb us.”

“My warrant card doesn’t have to be shown to the entire world.”

The pair did not answer and boarded a white minibus. The man who spoke in the TVB footage was also heard telling journalists to “use your professional knowledge” when repeatedly asked about his identity.”

South China Morning Post

“Amid clashes between police and protesters in Tsim Sha Tsui in Kowloon, footage emerged of a woman, believed to be a volunteer medic, lying on the ground with blood streaming from her right eye.

What appeared to be a beanbag round was lodged in a set of goggles on the ground in front of her.”

Ryan Ho / The Guardian “She was hospitalised after emergency treatment on the scene...her right eyeball was ruptured, and her right eyelid and maxilla were also broken.”

Kris Cheng / Hong Kong Free Press

“A small minority of people…they do not mind destroying Hong Kong’s economy. They have no stake in society. That’s why they resort to violence and obstruction, causing huge damage to the economy.”

Carrie Lam, Chief Executive of Hong Kong August 9

“Hong Kong’s radical demonstrators have repeatedly used extremely dangerous tools to attack police officers, which already constitutes a serious violent crime, and also shows signs of terrorism emerging.”

Yang Guang, spokesman for the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office August 12

August 9 - 13 Friday - Tuesday Hong Kong Airport

“A flood of protesters at one of the world’s busiest airports caused more than 150 flights to be canceled on Monday. The sit-ins began Friday and escalated into Monday in response to police actions at protest sites in other parts of the city.”

Alisha Gupta / The New York Times

“[On Monday,] some wore black eye patches, waving signs that read “Hong Kong is not safe,” “Shame on the police,” and “An eye for an eye,” turning out to express their anger after one person thought to have been shot by a beanbag round in her right eye was hospitalised.”

Sophia Yan & Katy Wong / The Telegraph

“Hong Kong police want to put us in death by head shot. So, we feel we need the world to see how shameful Hong Kong police are.”

Faren Lao, protester via NowThis

“The airport had been the site of mostly peaceful protests since last Friday—but on Tuesday, protesters blocked travellers from accessing flights, using luggage trolleys to build barriers, and staging a mass sit-down. At least two men were set upon by protesters, accused of being undercover police officers—a fear prompted after the police admitted they had deployed officers disguised as anti-government protesters. One man, who was tied up with zip ties, was later revealed to be Fu Guohao, a reporter for Chinese state media outlet the Global Times—though it is not clear if he identified himself.”

BBC

“I support Hong Kong police, you can hit me now.”

Fu Guohao, Global Times reporter

August 14 Wednesday

“Hong Kong protesters apologized on Wednesday after activists attacked two men at the airport. Protesters seemed well aware of the negative image they had presented... No single voice speaks for all the participants. Some embrace nonviolence, while others say confrontation is needed because the government has ignored the calls of peaceful protesters. Thus far, protesters have embraced overall messages of solidarity, despite differing beliefs about the best strategies.”

Ausin Ramzy / The New York Times

“Please accept our sincere apology to all travelers, press reporters, paramedics. We will learn from our mistakes.

Please give us a second chance to prove ourselves that we can be better.”

“We apologize for our behavior but we are just too scared.

Our police shot us, government betrayed us, social institutions failed us.

Please help us.”

“Satellite photos show what appear to be armored personnel carriers and other vehicles belonging to the China’s paramilitary People’s Armed Police parked in a sports complex in the city of Shenzhen, in what some have interpreted as a threat from Beijing to use increased force against pro-democracy protesters across the border in Hong Kong.”

Christopher Bodeen / AP August 15

“They kind of try to rule Hong Kong the way they rule China. That doesn’t really work in an open society. In Hong Kong, when you push people, when you repress them, when you ignore them— they push back.”

Michael Davis / Wilson Center

Between June 9 and August 15: 748 people are arrested 115 people have been charged

“True justice has yet to come, and this may fill your hearts with fury, which is only human nature. But I entreat you to not let hatred over take you. In such times of crisis, always maintain composure and reflection.

What we need is not to gamble our precious lives, but to produce perseverance and hope in suffering.�

Edward Leung, jailed activist an open letter to Hong Kongers

August 18 protest turnout: 1,700,000 11th consecutive week of protests

8.18 「流水式」集會 free flowing demonstration

front cover photo: Raby Chan, back cover photo: Lo Yick Ming compiled on 8.26.2019 23:26 Gothenburg & Los Angeles @6amprojects we do not claim ownership of any content displayed not for sale