Over 10-Year-Old ‘Noodle Eating’ Graffiti Accused of Violating National Security Law Removed by Hong Kong Government

This more than 10-year-old "street art" ensemble on the outside wall of a fast-food restaurant in Central, Hong Kong, has been accused of violating the "National Security Law" and the government ordered it to be removed. Courtesy of Glorious Fast Food

Glorious Fast Food restaurant, located in Central, Hong Kong, had three pieces of street art on its exterior walls as a set of graffiti, depicting a man in a construction worker’s gear, a plump woman, and a rabbit-like animal. What they had in common is that they all wore a yellow safety helmet commonly used by construction workers in Hong Kong, and each is eating a bowl of noodles.

On Saturday, Aug. 19, the restaurant posted on its Facebook page, which had rarely been updated in recent years, revealing that government officials appeared at the restaurant and told the owner that the paintings on the outside walls were suspected of violating the National Security Law and that they had to be removed. They felt very frustrated and helpless.

The restaurant stated that it has repeatedly pointed out to the government that the artwork does not involve political elements. “But because this small shop is far too undersized to fight with the authorities, I can only restrain my anger and sorrow to look on helplessly at the artwork’s disappearance.” And also because of my meagre self, “I have only myself to blame for not being able to protect what should belong to me.” Finally, it said that it hoped all its friends would forgive it.

Netizens commented on the post, questioning, “Is it okay to just wipe off that (yellow) hat?” The fast-food restaurant replied, “Ninety percent of the construction workers in Hong Kong wear yellow hats. When will the government put up legislation banning it?” Some people also suggested that the shop should “rewrite the quote as ”National Security Law reigns supreme, it’s invincible the world over.”

During the anti-extradition movement that swept Hong Kong in 2019, young protesters wore yellow protective helmets to counter police rubber bullets.

Restaurant: Artwork Created in 2013 with Zero Political Motivation

Ms. Wong, the person in charge of the restaurant, said that she received a call from the Home Affairs Department at the beginning of August, informing her that the artwork was suspected of breaching the National Security Law. Ms. Wong suspects that the protagonists in the artwork wearing a hard protective helmet might have made the authorities “feel uncomfortable after having a look at it.”

The report also stated that the graffiti was created in 2013 by a painter in a nearby studio, inspired by the construction workers there, and the concept had nothing to do with any political motivation behind it. One unnamed painter said that the incident reflected the current decline in creative space in Hong Kong.

Home Affairs Dept.: Some Graffiti Nearby Are Reminiscent of ‘Black Violence,’ or ‘Independence for Hong Kong’

The Home Affairs Department replied to the media that the District Office of the Central and Western District discovered graffiti on the exterior wall and the steel door of the ground floor shops of the building at No. 147-151 Caine Road in June this year. It had contacted the owners corporation, and Glorious Fast Food and reminded them.

The persons in charge of the restaurant, and of the owners’ corporation agreed in writing on July 13 and July 19, 2023, respectively, to entrust the Home Affairs Office to remove the graffiti. On Aug. 6, the Home Affairs Department arranged for a contractor to assist the owners in removing the graffiti in the above two places.

The Home Affairs Department also stated that the District Office of the Central and Western District had received comments from people in the neighborhood from time to time, saying that “some graffiti in the district is reminiscent of “black violence” or “Independence for Hong Kong.” Therefore, once the district office finds any graffiti on private properties in the area that might create such an illusion, it will serve reminder to the relevant property owners, owners’ corporations, shop tenants, and so on. The department claimed that the removal of graffiti on private properties is at the discretion of the relevant property owners, owners corporations, or shop tenants, and whenever the relevant persons express their intention to entrust the Central and Western District Office to arrange contractors to clean up the relevant graffiti on their behalf, the department is more than happy to help.

Commenting on the incident, Ng Chi-sum, a veteran media person, felt angry, found it ridiculous, and questioned, “What is still reminiscent of the law in Hong Kong?” He said that government officials claimed earlier that some people used works of art to cover up violations of the national security law, and the film censorship regulations have already stated that national security should be considered.

He pointed out that the freedom of creation in Hong Kong is on par with things such as freedom of speech, and freedom of information flow. This incident reflects the demise of Hong Kong. “There is no turning back.”

When it can’t even tolerate a painting, what more can we expect of them for items such as the ‘Pillar of Shame,’ ‘Jun Zi Comics,’ or the books that were pulled off the shelves?” If Hong Kong people feel it doesn’t matter, it will pave the way to kill Hong Kong’s status as an international financial center from within.” He accused the Hong Kong authorities of “discarding every piece of Hong Kong’s core values one by one,” which will eventually make Hong Kong become just one ordinary city like those in mainland China.