Sunday, August 16, 2020

Messages of support and protest in Apple Daily ads this week (Photo-essay)

Baby-faced political activist Agnes Chow got eyes (particularly Japanese ones -- I didn't realize until this week that she is the face of the Hong Kong pro-democracy movement for many in Japan!) focusing on Hong Kong in the wake of her arrest (along with nine others this past Monday).  But for the most part, this has been the week of media tycoon -- and fellow arrestee -- Jimmy Lai, his Apple Daily, and Hong Kongers rallying around him and it

In an interview with Britain's The Guardian newspaper which came out yesterday, the media tycoon spoke about the future of protest in Hong Kong involving creativity and patience.  I think those who have been following the Hong Kong protests for a time know that Hong Kongers have made resistance an art form.  But it could be said that Hong Kongers have outdone themselves this week by coming out with yet more new forms of protest: ones that involved buying shares of parent company Next Media, copies of the Apple Daily or ads in the newspaper!

More than incidentally, I was actually pretty shocked by how few ads there were in the copy of Apple Daily that I bought on Tuesday.  So it was good to see more ads appear in the copies of the newspaper I bought later in the week.  Also heartening has been the messages communicated in, and by way of, many of the ads that have been placed in the newspaper (irrespective of size).  It's not just that many of them are quite lofty and inspirational in spirit (with quotes by the likes of Hannah Arendt and Martin Luther appearing in them) but, also, that they have been placed there -- at no small expense -- by supportive lovers of freedom (including individuals as well as small, local shops) rather than your more usual big, wealthy, multinational companies.  Have a look at the following selection; over the course of which I hope you'll be moved (too)... :)

 
(There were 12 and half pages like this in all!)
 
Like the Lennon Walls that used to be found all over Hong Kong
(but no longer, alas), there are messages in English as well as Chinese
 

A pertinent quote from the Bible
 
complete with colorful cartoon imagery)! :)
 
Message from a tshirt company
 
Not the kind of ad you'd expect to find in a tabloid, right? 
But that's Apple Daily and Hong Kong for you :)

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