Hong Kong protests: owner of protective gear store vows to run business despite arrest
- Lee Ching-hei, owner of National Disaster Hardware Shop, says he will run his business from wherever and whenever possible
- He was arrested last Saturday and charged with possessing offensive weapons
The owner of a store selling protective gear to Hong Kong’s anti-government protesters has vowed to continue his business despite his arrest last weekend.
Lee Ching-hei, the owner of the National Disaster Hardware Shop, was arrested last Saturday along with his six employees and a customer at a storefront on Third Street in Sai Ying Pun.
On Sunday, police officers claimed they found items – such as two bottles of drain cleaner, spray cans, baseballs, a baseball launcher and 12 press badges. All the eight were charged with possessing offensive weapons and were released on bail on Monday.
“Even after our arrest on Saturday, we continued business as usual on Sunday. We have a long-term rental contract on this storefront. So, we will continue running from wherever and whenever possible, as long as we have customers. We might even open the shop suddenly late at night,” Lee said at a press conference on Tuesday.
He said he did not consider his store to be a “pop-up”.