In June 2019 protests broke out over Hong Kong, opposing legislation proposed by the government of Hong Kong, which would allow local authorities to detain and extradite people who are wanted in territories that Hong Kong does not have extradition agreements with, including mainland China. Here is a quick look at how the protests have spread to Australia.
Lennon Wall in Melbourne
In July Australian-based Chinese political cartoonist, artist and rights activist Badiucao (巴丢草) kicked off a Lennon Wall in Hosier Lane in Melbourne.
Hi, Melbourne：
I am calling everyone to join me and Australian-HongKong Link for creating #LennonWall in Hoseir Lane #Melbourne to support HKers fighting for their city's freedoms. See you this Saturday！周六2pm墨尔本，连侬墙撑港！要来哦！
More info:https://t.co/YeNt5X8W6a pic.twitter.com/AyBNqepDjp
— 巴丢草 Badiucao (@badiucao) July 16, 2019
1. #撑港列侬墙在墨尔本
Poster is up in Melbourne in Hosier Lane.
during my experience of street art，never got any trouble in hoser lane，but from very beginning，already got trouble with Melbourne council inspect，
very llikely got intentionally reported by China trolls. pic.twitter.com/AxLY5oQslQ— 巴丢草 Badiucao (@badiucao) July 20, 2019
And got a mention in local newspaper The Age – Post-it protest in support of Hong Kong backlash over extradition plan:
Hundreds of post-it notes fluttered over the graffiti on Hosier Lane in central Melbourne on Saturday in a message of support to pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong.
The notes are part of an art installation – Lennon Wall for Hong Kong, by Chinese-Australian artist and political dissident Badiucao – depicting Chinese leader Xi Xingping and Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam.
Badiucao invited people in Melbourne to leave messages of solidarity over his mural, similar to the “Lennon walls” – inspired by a Czech wall devoted to the late Beatles frontman John Lennon – that have sprung up across Hong Kong.
“I see Melbourne as my second home town, I really love this city and I want to contribute to it,” Badiucao said before Saturday’s event.
“I think Hosier Lane is a particularly good place, it is the pearl on the crown of Melbourne’s street art scene, it is also a place where I know tonnes of Chinese tourists will come every day.”
“Every photo on Instagram and social media will be the speaker for the Hong Kong people,”Badiucao said. Maybe, ultimately, it will help them in the long term as well. That is why I am calling on every Melbourne citizen to join me.
“I think it’s also a very beautiful thing to collect a message in a physical space. For people to exchange ideas. The form itself is very beautiful with all of the colours.”
The wall was soon covered with messages of support.
Until it was slowly covered by the street art that Hosier Lane is known for.
Australian whingers
On August 12 an Australian tourist at Hong Kong Airport hit the news after attacking protesters for delaying his flight.
“You are angry because your flight is cancelled.”
One stranded Australian tourist got into an argument with protesters at Hong Kong airport, saying they supported independence and that police should crack down harder. It didn’t go well for him. https://t.co/7TryMbHrEW pic.twitter.com/x7dIuNQ5ot
— 𝕛𝕒𝕞𝕖𝕤 𝕘𝕣𝕚𝕗𝕗𝕚𝕥𝕙𝕤 🇭🇰🏴 (@jgriffiths) August 12, 2019
news.com.au covered the story – ‘He’s trash’: Australian man slammed over his tirade at Hong Kong protesters:
A stranded Australian tourist in Hong Kong has been blasted after he was filmed clashing with pro-democracy protesters and telling them to “get a job” during a massive airport demonstration yesterday.
The man was filmed getting into a heated confrontation with a group of demonstrators who stormed Hong Kong’s airport last night, disrupting operations and freezing flights.
The man, who was not able to board his flight in the chaos, told the group that “the sooner Hong Kong actually becomes a part of mainland China, the better”.
The group of protesters were filmed attempting to reason with the man, explaining that they were fighting for freedom and independence from the Chinese government.
With many Aussies taking the piss.
This is the trifecta of Aussie boomer outrage:
Protests ☑️
Transport delay ☑️
Young people asking for something ☑️ https://t.co/vSeH7uvO1a— kind regrads, (@mathaiaus) August 12, 2019
Never underestimate the arrogance of a mediocre white Australian man. https://t.co/O7VTJxFmD3
— reroy (@okreroy) August 12, 2019
Fake protest permits
August 14 saw a fake permit letter for a “Support One China Principle” protest in Melbourne appear.
This fake permit letter for a "Support One China Principle" protest in Melbourne this Saturday is being disseminated by multiple Chinese-Australian media orgs on WeChat. pic.twitter.com/nHSrwWRXJ1
— 💯Fergus Ryan (@fryan) August 14, 2019
With ABC News investigating further – Pro-China rally in Melbourne condemning Hong Kong protests delayed over fake council permit
A pro-China rally planned for Saturday in Melbourne to condemn the clashes in Hong Kong has been postponed after a letter claiming to be an event permit from the Melbourne City Council was confirmed to be fake.
A well-known local Chinese media outlet, Australian Red Scarf, first announced the pro-Beijing protests in Melbourne on their WeChat account last Friday, accompanied by an image of a letter saying the council approved the “Support One China Principle” event to be held at the State Library in Melbourne.
On Wednesday, the ABC approached the Melbourne City Council about the letter — which claimed the council approved the pro-China rally — who then issued a statement on Twitter announcing that the letter was “fake”.
“The City of Melbourne does not issue permits for protests or demonstrations,” the statement read.
“However, we encourage anyone planning an assembly, demonstration or rally to let Victoria Police and the City of Melbourne know so that we can plan for any effects on parks, public places, streets and footpaths and notify affected businesses and services.
Fake Chinese police cars
By August 19 fake Chinese police cars were spotted at pro-Hong Kong rallies in Perth and Adelaide.
Fake Chinese police cars spotted in #Perth and #Adelaide amid pro-Hong Kong rallieshttps://t.co/VJDrcUGBHu #HongKong
— ABC Adelaide (@abcadelaide) August 19, 2019
With ABC News picking up the story:
Authorities are investigating after fake Chinese police cars were spotted in Adelaide and Perth amid pro-Hong Kong demonstrations across Australia, but the owner of one of the cars has told police it was a “joke”.
In South Australia photos have surfaced of a car — bearing Chinese characters — parked at various spots around Adelaide’s CBD.
SA Police told the ABC it was aware of the vehicle’s current location and was investigating if it has been involved in any offences.
Police in Western Australia also confirmed they had received reports of a car with Chinese police markings.
“WA Police spoke to the driver of the vehicle who stated he purchased the decals online,” a spokesperson said.
And a 2017 footnote
Badiucao’s Lennon Wall isn’t his first public work in Melbourne – here is one from July 2017:
Via @badiucao – street art in Hosier Lane, Melbourne marking 2 years since the start of China's wide-reaching crackdown on lawyers/activists pic.twitter.com/ZcTEPvyMpf
— Tom Grundy (@tomgrundy) July 11, 2017
As well as a shrine for the late Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo.
#LiuXiaobo Everyone in Melbourne is welcome to Hosier Lane to leave note，flower & love.
向墨尔本发起 #刘晓波鲜花 活动，去Hosier Lane，送刘晓波一支花。入夜了，让花俏俏绽放 pic.twitter.com/iqT7CnNSi0— 巴丢草 Badiucao (@badiucao) July 14, 2017
Hi Marcus,
It’s nice to see you doing a bit of coverage on the Hong Kong protests! As a longtime follower of your blog and fellow HK-Australian railfan, I have a question for you.
Did the 7/21 and 8/31 change your perception of MTR? If so, in what way?
For me, it definitely shifted it from an overall positive to an overall negative. If people ask me, I’ll say that I still respect the amazing efficiency, planning and engineering of the transit system, but it has lost my respect after it assisted the HKPF.
How about you?
Regards,
Tom P
My opinion of them has shifted due to their pro-government response to the protests in much the same way as you – operationally they do a good job, but I don’t like their politics.
Recent years have seen other public figures enter my ‘bad books’ for the same reason – Jackie Chan with his pro-Beijing opinions, are more recently the South China Morning Post after their sale to Alibaba.