Some of my favorite members of the Yellow Economic Circle (Photo-essay)

Although there are people who might want it to seem otherwise, Hong Kong pro-democracy protests have been predominantly peaceful and non-violent in nature.  This include many massive protest marches (including that which is estimated to have had some 2 million participants) and large rallies that took place in 2019 and into 2020.  Two other notable forms of protest that do not involve violence -- unless one talks about attempts by opponents of democracy to destroy them -- include the Lennon Walls and Yellow Economic Circle (the latter of which is still going strong up until today).   

 

Re the latter: they consist of shops, restaurants and bars whose owners and staffers are pro-democracy; with many of them having done so as helped protestors (by doing such as offering free food, drinks and other items, or having opened their doors to people when the areas they were in saw tear gas attacks by the police).  And many of their customers have chosen to support them in order to thank them for their actions, and continue to support them in these often trying economic times.          

 

One of the most popular and successful Yellow Economic Circle members has been AbouThai, a Thai lifetstyle chain owned by Mike Lam, one of the 47 Hong Kong politicians and activists accused of having broken the national security law by taking part in the pro-democracy primaries of July 2020, and his Thai-born wife, Bowie Kanokwon.  So imagine the shock that many people felt yesterday after he publicly denounced the Yellow Economic Circle, calling it a mistake.  In view of this, I won't be shopping at AboutThai any more.  But the good news is that there still are thousands of other "yellow shops" for me to support -- including the eight which offer up the following tasty fare:

 

Wong char (King stir fry) at Man Wah, a restaurant which suffered

an attack by pro-Beijingers in 2019 but still is going strong in 2023

 

Cha chaan teng fare at  一日三餐, a restaurant owned by

former Cathay Pacific pilot turned legislative councillor

(and currently imprisoned pro-democracy politician) Jeremy Tam

 

One of many pizzas I've eaten at Jacomax, a pizza chain 

whose owners (an Italian born man and his local 

Hong Konger wife) are very openly pro-democracy

 

Italian food and Hong Kong beer at Villa Villa, a North Point eatery 

that helps provide proof that that part of Hong Kong 

is not as wholly "blue" (pro-Beijing) as is often assumed! 

 

Assorted (and unusual -- e.g., including peanut butter and chocolate!)

siu mai at Tsui Kee Dim Sum, a "yellow shop" just a few minutes' walk
away from Prince Edward MTR station

 

The signature crab at The Chairman, a highly rated fine dining

establishment known for its championing of local produce

 

Seasonal sushi at Sushi Masa, whose Sheung Wan branch

I'm a particular fan of (and has replaced the Maxim Group's 

owned Senryo in my heart) 
 

A confession: Seng Seng Pocha/Korean Cuisine would be my favorite

Korean restaurant in Hong Kong even if it weren't "yellow"

(though, of course, if it were "blue", I wouldn't eat there)! :)