Hong Kong advertising workers down tools to promote anti-government protest movement instead

More than 1,000 Hong Kong advertising workers kicked off a week-long strike on Monday with a rally in Central, warning authorities they would not give in until police are held accountable for their handling of recent unrest.

The organisers of the lunchtime gathering in Chater Garden, from a group called Advertising Civilians, vowed to strike from Monday to Friday, and use the time – and their professional skills – to help spread the word about the “yellow economy” of pro-democracy shops and restaurants, with free work on advertising and promotion. Yellow is a symbolic colour of the city’s pro-democracy movement.

The group said it hoped to encourage similar action from other industries.

Anthony Yiu Koon-tung, a spokesman for the event, who has been in the industry for 20 years, said they hoped the action would bond advertising workers and allow them to “let each other know they are not alone” in the movement.

“Many young people in the industry have been arrested and injured,” Yiu said. “Those who are in the industry have not been participating enough in the movement by assisting the design of promotional materials and leaflets. We hope such an event can raise the awareness of everyone in the field.”