Hong Kong’s demonstrator who defaced city emblem is still angry

Bloomberg

Of all the dramatic visuals to emerge from the protests that rocked Hong Kong in recent weeks, one stands out: the defaced city emblem left by demonstrators who stormed the legislature on July 1.
The image of Hong Kong’s iconic bauhinia flower covered in black paint has become a symbol of the frustrations that sent hundreds of thousands of protesters onto the streets and drove some to vandalism. The masked 20-year-old behind the graffiti, who would only give his last name as Lau, said he targeted the bauhinia because it would be “meaningful.”
As Hong Kong gears up for another round of demonstrations, interviews with Lau and others who broke into the legislature that evening suggest their anger with the government and its backers in Beijing is deeply entrenched. While Lau is wary of becoming a police target after images of him spray-painting the city emblem were broadcast around the world, he said he still believes what he did was right.
“Hong Kong people are very stressed,” Lau said. “The problems are endless.”
The protesters interviewed by Bloomberg spoke of the underlying frustration and dissatisfaction towards the government that have accumulated among young adults over the years — from wealth disparity to out-of-reach home prices in the world’s most expensive property market, and a sense of eroding democratic norms.
Lau’s lack of regret also underscores the persistent divide between protesters and Hong Kong’s government.
Carrie Lam, the city’s chief executive, suspended the extradition bill that sparked the initial demonstrations last month but has refused to completely withdraw it or meet protesters’ other demands. Hong Kong police began arresting suspects on charges related to the July 1 demonstrations.
Meanwhile, Chinese authorities have mounted a campaign of criticism, describing the invasion of Hong Kong’s legislature as a threat to the rule of law.