#Economy
#Chickeeduck Suffers Political Suppression

Herbert Chow, the owner of the chain children's clothing store Chickeeduck, had placed the Hong Kong Goddess of Democracy at the Discovery Park branch in Tsuen Wan earlier. It was ordered to be removed by the New World Development, the mall owner, but he refused.

Chow received an email notification from the owner today that his contract will not be renewed and will have to move out within 21 days. He described the situation as abrupt, "I am feeling the political pressure of real estate developers," and rebuked New World Development, "The 1% have compromised", and hope to let the public see the true colors with this incident, "they're just like the government. "

Chickeeduck has set up shop in Discovery Park since July 25, 2017. Yesterday, the mall sent a letter to Chow that the lease will be annulled on June 30 and asked Chickeeduck to move out within 21 days; the letter also did not mention the reasons for refusing a renewal.

Source: Inmedia #Jun30

#Solidarity
Protesters' Painting is "the Best Advertisement", Says #Chickeeduck's CEO

Chickeeduck has a new branch in Tin Hau slated to open soon, with a painting of a protester boldly displayed on its shutters. CEO Herbert Chow said the painting was his favorite part of the new store; since the painting faces the on-ramp to the Central-Wan Chai Bypass, "This is our best advertisement."

He wanted it to be a constant reminder to the government and the people of Hong Kong: "If they hadn't tried to ram the extradition bill through #LegCo last year, would these people have been on the streets?"

He also wanted to challenge the pro-Beijing camp's denigrating description of the pro-democracy protesters as "evil rioters". "If they withdrew the bill on June 12 [when LegCo was scheduled to vote on the extradition bill], no one would need to wear all this gear to protect themselves."

Chickeeduck had caught the attention of Hongkongers when they displayed a statue of Hong Kong's Lady Liberty in one of their branches earlier.

Originally a children's clothing store chain, the new branch will also carry products related to the anti-ELAB movement, such as T-shirts and small replicas of the Lady Liberty statue.

Chow said the store will present more merchandises with artwork from local artists.

Source: InMediaHK.net #Dec10
https://bit.ly/3r3b5ly

#HerbertChow #LadyLiberty #AntiELAB #HongKongProtests #ProtestArt #HongKongBrand #YellowEconomy

#May7 #FirstHand #Video
"This is a Hong Kong I'm not familiar with": #Chickeeduck Owner Recounts Police Raid on Newly-Opened Branch

Read more
⬇️⬇️
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/29619

#May7 #FirstHand #Video
"This is a Hong Kong I'm not familiar with": #Chickeeduck Owner Recounts Police Raid on Newly-Opened Branch

After national security police raided #Chickeeduck 's new Tsuen Wan branch on May 6, 2021, store owner #HerbertChow recounted the ordeal in English to reporters at the store.

About 30 officers entered the premises with a search warrant, he said, claiming that the store may have products that violated the National Security Law.

Although the police only searched for products, all store staff were detained and not allowed to leave, even at Chow's request.

Many customers left the store when the police began surrounding and cordoning off the shop, and police took down the ID card numbers of the customers before letting them go.

Chow and four other employees remained in the store as the policemen conducted their search for about an hour, opening bags and carton boxes. The police found nothing. However, one senior officer told Chow that although the police were not confiscating any evidence, the investigation was not finished.

He gave Chow a verbal warning: "In the future, if you violate the National Security Law, we will prosecute you."

When Chow asked him whether he had violated any law, the officer only answered, "We have no responsibility to answer your question." "I just want to know whether I can continue business," Chow said.

Watch video:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/29618

Since the police did not remove any questionable items, he reasoned, everything in the store could be assumed to be legal, and the store could continue to open for business. "So have I violated any law?" Chow asked, "Should I continue, or should I take away some stuff?" The officer only said again that they were not obliged to answer.

"So this is Hong Kong," said a flabbergasted Chow. "The national security department is so powerful, they can come in, interrupt your business for one hour, take your customers' ID card numbers, and they don't have to explain.“

"This is a Hong Kong I'm not familiar with. I've been living here for 57 years; this is the first time I've experienced this."

Chow is resolute in continuing his business despite the harassment, though his view of the police force is quickly dimming.

"I used to tell youngsters that there are good people in the police force. I'm changing [my stance]."

#YellowEconomy #PoliticalSuppression #NationalSecurityLaw

#YellowEconomy #Solidarity
Shop in Hong Kong Distributes Candles In Commemoration of 32 year-mark of #June4 #TianamenMassacre

The pro-democracy kidswear store #Chickeeduck is giving out free candles from June 2 to June 4, 2021, encouraging fellow citizens to commemorate the June 4th Tiananmen Massacre on their own.

The Tsuen Wan branch has prepared 1,000 sets of candle. The store also has electric candle that writes "Support the Tiananmen Mother" to give away. The storekeeper said they came from a Tsuen Wan district councillor.

When the Tsuen Wan branch of Chickeeduck was inaugurated in May 2021, the store was raided by the national security police. When asked whether they were afraid the same thing would happen, the storekeeper said, "we are not worried, we have been following the procedures."

The Hong Kong Police has for the second year in a row banned the annual candlelight vigil commemorating the victims of Chinese Communist Party's brutal crackdown on the pro-democracy rallies at Beijing's #TiananmenSquare in 1989.

Source: InMedia #Jun2
https://bit.ly/2SK8EI2

#NeverForget #NeverGiveUp

====
Related News:

Hong Kong Police Arrests a #June4 #Vigil Organizer After Banning Commemorative Activity

https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/29899

Hong Kong Restaurant Gives Free #Candles On the Eve of #June4 Commemoration Day

https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/29891

HK Police Arrest #GrannyWong
for "participating in unauthorized assembly" ALONE

https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/29822

#NeverSurrender: Hong Kong Hospital Authorities Employees' Alliance Speaks Up for June 4 Tiananmen Massacre

https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/29830

Pro-democracy Activists Reopen June 4th Commemorative Museum in Hong Kong

https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/29877

#PoliticalOppression
Pro-democracy retail shop decides to exit Hong Kong after months of harassment and nuisance by Pro-Beijing Force

Pro-democeacy retail chain, #CHICKEEDUCK, announced on November 18, 2021 that it will close down all retail shops in Hong Kong in June/July 2022.

Owner of the brand, #HerbertChow said that he is considering to turn one of the shops in Tin Hau into a museum to display artworks like statue of noble prize winner and Chinese dissident #LiuXiaobo and the Hong Kong's Lady Liberty statue.

Chow told reporters that his company suffered too many oppressions in the past 18 months. The NationalSecurityPolice has once stopped his production factory in China from shipping out orders.

Some staff member of the retail chain have been followed and tracked.

“This decision was not made for me, this decision was made for the company’s staff… considering the daily torture they endured,” said Chow.

The shop received hundreds of nuisance calls per month during peak hours, he added.

“It’s not related to my personal safety,” Chow said. “I took this step not because I was worried that I might get arrested, I never thought that I had violated the law.”

Chow said that he “could not stand injustice," reiterating that he can stop getting involved in other areas, “but when it comes to Hong Kong, our home, how can [I] shut up?”

Source: Stand News; #Nov18 https://thestandnews.page.link/GSZ8x2cUoJNjgFcBA

#YellowShop

#PoliticalOppression
Pro-democracy shop asked to flip over a banner that says “Hong Kong’s Future is Bright”

A pro-democracy retail chain in Hong Kong, Chickeeduck, hoisted a banner that read “ Hong Kong’s future is bright” to promote its new shop in Causeway Bay. However, workers of the shop were asked to turn the banner over as a member of the Incorporated Owners’ committee didn’t like it.

CEO of #Chickeeduck, #HerbertChow told reporters that he did ask the Committee for prior consent before producing the banner and putting it up.

In frustration, he called the Committee member's action barbarous and absurd.

Source: inmediahk; #Jan22
https://bit.ly/3fOfSDe

#Hongkongers Say Farewell to Local Pro-Democracy Clothing Store #Chickeeduck

The last store of #Chickeeduck in Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, was shut down on July 10, 2022. Many Hongkongers paid visit to the store and showed appreciation for the owner #ChowSiuLung, as he had been vocal in support of the city's pro-democracy movement.

Chow displayed the miniature of the Goddess of Liberty in his stores. When he opened his store in Tsuen Wan last year, national security police raided his store but arrested no one. In November 2021, Chow announced the closure of his business in Hong Kong, as his factories were harassed and business partners were slandered due to Chow's pro-democracy stance.

On July 11, 2022, customers visiting the store mentioned how Chickeeduck, a local children's clothing store, was their childhood memories. Some talked about the products' excellent quality and the fond memory of the owner, even during random encounters.

Images: #FirstHand
Text: InMediaHK.net #Jul10

#Chickeeduck #ChowSiuLung

https://bit.ly/3ap51R8

#Hongkongers Say Farewell to Local Pro-Democracy Clothing Store #Chickeeduck

The last store of #Chickeeduck in Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, was shut down on July 10, 2022. Many Hongkongers paid visit to the store and showed appreciation for the owner #ChowSiuLung, as he had been vocal in support of the city's pro-democracy movement.

Chow displayed the miniature of the Goddess of Liberty in his stores. When he opened his store in Tsuen Wan last year, national security police raided his store but arrested no one. In November 2021, Chow announced the closure of his business in Hong Kong, as his factories were harassed and business partners were slandered due to Chow's pro-democracy stance.

On July 11, 2022, customers visiting the store mentioned how Chickeeduck, a local children's clothing store, was their childhood memories. Some talked about the products' excellent quality and the fond memory of the owner, even during random encounters.

Images: #FirstHand
Text: InMediaHK.net #Jul10

#Chickeeduck #ChowSiuLung

https://bit.ly/3ap51R8

#UniversalValues #Education #Hopology
Hong Kong Parent Produces Children's Books to Teach Universal Values

In recent years, the socio-political environment in Hong Kong has deteriorated continuously , especially after the elimination of general studies and addition of national security education into Hong Kong's school curriculum.

Many parents came to realize the importance of teaching their children universal values and basic concepts such as society and justice, some of them introducing these ideas to their children even during the pre-school years.

Bonnie, a mother of two daughters, told reporters that she has always been telling bedtime stories to her daughters, and often pondered about what kind of stories are suitable for them. 

As democracy and freedom are being eroded in Hong Kong, she felt that she may not even be able to speak up on these topics in the future.

This led to her publishing a series of three children’s picture books on election, freedom, and justice, which is now available for sale at #Chickeeduck stores, as well as Bonnie's website "Hopology": 
https://shop.hopelab.co/product/bonnies-book/

"A good picture book should be useful for both adults and children.  It should be interesting for both," Bonnie said.

Different age groups may be interested in different aspects of the topic, she added, though picture books are made first and foremost for children. 

Questions at the end of the book also lead readers to reflect on the story, and to use their imagination to understand abstract ideas.

Bonnie began creating picture books in 2019, her first book aiming to explain the pandemic to her two daughters.  She subsequently released her work online as an illustrated e-book, thinking that "since I already told [the story] to two people, I might as well tell it to the world."  She was surprised at the overwhelming responses from readers; her books had even been adapted by some schools as teaching materials. 

This encouraged her to continue writing picture books, sharing with the world the stories she wrote to teach her daughters.

Sources: Commons HK, #Aug1
cmmns.co/XccyQ

Hopology Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/hopology.hk/posts/pfbid0tKXTNnS1SJ1RpgX91pDAuVYd2LcrMCWJKVUfG6x7yWw5LHD933iicXfFefbDTw5vl

#ChildrensBooks #UniversalValues #Education #Hopology