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4 / Anti-ELAB Terminology

Terminology

Anti-ELAB protesters use special slang to communicate. Here’s a Glossary of
some common terms.
By Jasmine Ling Black Bloc: dress code of
TACTICS the movement, to help
protesters hide their
Extradition Bill identities.
“Be Water” (adj.)
The Extradition Bill, the “Fugitive Offenders and Mutual Legal As- Plastic wrap: to
sistance in Criminal Matters Legislation (Amendment) Bill 2019” “Be Water” is a quote by mar- protect their skin
from irritations
in full, was a bill proposed by the Hong Kong government to tial arts actor Bruce Lee which caused by teargas
amend the existing extradition ordinance. The bill was pro- advises people to be mobile and pepper sprays.
posed in February 2019 in light of Hong Kong resident Poon and adaptable. It is a strat- Gloves: to prevent
Hiu-wing’s murder case in Taiwan. The murder suspect Chan egy adopted by protesters to cuts when moving
sharp and heavy
Tong-kai fled to Hong Kong but could not be extradited due abandon stationary occupa- objects such as
to the lack of transferral agreement between Hong Kong tions on streets for an agile, barricades.
and Taiwan. In the bill, the government planned to establish nimble style of “flashmob” Umbrella: to create
privacy shields for
a mechanism that would allow the transfer of criminal sus- protests. protesters while they
pects to countries or territories with which it has no formal “Sau Zuk” 手足 (n.) are spraying graffitis,
extradition agreements, including Taiwan and Mainland Chi- removing railings and
setting fires. Umbrel-
na. Hongkongers contend that the judiciary is dependent on (Hands and Feet) las are also used to
the Communist Party in China, and fear that the bill can put Protesters refer to each other defend projectiles.
anyone at risk of transferring back to China, especially politi- as “hands and feet” meaning
cal activists. they fight for democracy with unity and soli-
darity.
AS OF 31 OCTOBER 2019,
2,600+ “Faht Moong” 發夢 (v.)

Number of people arrested in the 5-month long movement. (“Dreaming”)
The word “Faht Moong” is an alternative word
11 6,000+ 2,400+ used by protesters to describe participating
in protests that might be unlawful.
Number of live Cannisters of rubber bullets
bullets fired teargas used deployed Lennon Walls

~700 500+
Number of sponge Number of bean-
grenade fired bag rounds used
Source: Reuters

“Blue , Yellow” (adj.)

Lennon Wall at a flyover in Tsuen Wan
Lennon Walls are where people leave memos of
political demands, supportive messages and
protest statements on underpasses, flyovers
or shops in different districts. The colourful walls
originate from the Lennon Wall in Prague where
fans of singer John Lennon painted memorial
The yellow colour has been used to represent the pro-de- messages after his death. Lennon Walls in Hong
mocracy camp since the Umbrella Movement in 2014. Blue Kong has become a site of protest art since the
stands for supporters of the government and police. The two first one appeared on a staircase outside the
colours are used to describe political stances of people in government headquarters in Admiralty during
Hong Kong. the 2014 Umbrella Movement.