Hong Kong protests against I.T Group
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Hong Kong’s Causeway Bay was yesterday the center of the largest and most disruptive protest activity since the outbreak of Covid-19, forcing stores to close and shoppers seeking shelter from tear gas.
And they revealed a new target: Hong Kong-listed apparel retailer I.T Group and its founder Sham Kar Wai.
Angered by moves in Beijing to impose new national security laws on the territory, thousands of protesters took to the streets yesterday, ignoring social-distancing practices and unconcerned that the gathering had not been authorized by police.
About 180 people were arrested after police fired tear gas and pepper spray and used one of its water cannons to shower groups gathered on Hennessy Road and surrounding streets.
I.T Group’s A Bathing Ape store on Lee Garden Road had all of its feature windows smashed, with piles of glass fragments covering the footpath.
Around the corner, its Commes de Garcons store received similar treatment. As during last year’s protests when retailers perceived to be pro-Beijing had stores targeted, nothing was stolen.
Images of the damaged I.T stores were circulated on Twitter along with explanations why the company is now a target. Sham Kar Wai has been identified by the protest movement as “pro-Blue” after photographs were circulated allegedly showing him attending a police social event.
“…This has absolutely NOTHING to do w/Comme des Garcon. If anything, I admire Rei Kawakubo A LOT!,” a person identifying themselves as Chloe tweeted, referring to the damaged store. “Her inspiration is often driven by freedom and rebellion. On that note I hope Dover St Market and CDG would stop their partnership with Sham Kar Wai’s I.T.”
In a long stream, the person also shared internal memos instructing I.T staff to urgently remove stock from shelves from the US brand Awake NY after it posted messages last year supporting protests via tweets on its own channel:
Meanwhile, across town, live television broadcasts showed several people in restraints being escorted from the Harbour City shopping centre in Kowloon, some by plainclothes police.
Questions & Answers
Q.Why has I.T Group become a target for protesters?
Why has I.T Group become a target for protesters?
Protesters have identified I.T Group founder Sham Kar Wai as "pro-Blue," a term associated with supporting the police or government. This perception stems from circulated photographs allegedly showing him attending a police social event.
Q.What kind of damage did I.T Group's stores sustain?
What kind of damage did I.T Group's stores sustain?
The company's A Bathing Ape store on Lee Garden Road had all its feature windows smashed, leaving glass fragments on the footpath. Its Commes de Garcons store also received similar destructive treatment.
Q.Was any merchandise stolen from the damaged I.T Group stores?
Was any merchandise stolen from the damaged I.T Group stores?
No, nothing was stolen from the I.T Group stores that were targeted during the protests. This mirrors the pattern observed in last year's protests against retailers perceived as pro-Beijing.
Q.Why are some people calling for a boycott of I.T Group's partnership with Comme des Garçons?
Why are some people calling for a boycott of I.T Group's partnership with Comme des Garçons?
A person on Twitter suggested Comme des Garçons and Dover Street Market should end their partnership with Sham Kar Wai's I.T Group. They argued that Comme des Garçons' brand ethos of freedom and rebellion conflicts with I.T Group's perceived stance.
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