Halloween costumes banned on Beijing subway as Apec summit security stepped up
Police, fearing scary make-up or masks could cause panic, warn offenders will face heavy punishment
Beijing police have warned people they face arrest for wearing Halloween fancy dress on the subway as it may cause crowds to gather and create “trouble”, a state-run newspaper said on Friday, unveiling a list of Apec summit-related restrictions.
Next month’s meeting of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders is being billed as the capital’s highest-profile international event since the 2008 Olympics.
Aside from widespread traffic controls and road closures, starting from Saturday and running until November 12, the city is massively ramping up security, which is what appears to have prompted the Halloween warning.
With Halloween’s arrival, the wearing of fancy dress or scary make-up on the city’s extensive subway network could cause “panic”, the Beijing News noted.
“Public transport police point out, please do not wear strange outfits in subway stations or in train carriages, which could easily cause a crowd to gather and create trouble,” it said.
Police had the power to arrest those who “upset order”, the paper said.