In an apparent attempt at inconveniencing pro-democracy protesters, China is banning the export of black clothing to Hong Kong.
According to the South China Morning Post, a Guangdong-based courier company issued a notice back in July, warning that Chinese customs was prohibiting the delivery of certain items, including: “yellow helmets, yellow umbrellas, flags, flagpoles, poster banners, gloves, masks, black T-shirts, metal rods, fluorescent tubes, bludgeon clubs.”
Another list of banned items issued in September by a different Guangdong courier was even longer: “foodstuffs, liquid, powder, gases, counterfeit brand products, big machines, helmets, umbrellas, wrist bands, towels, safety vests, speakers, amplifiers, trestles, walkie-talkies, drones, black shirts and other clothing, goggles, metal beads, metal balls, horticulture scissors, metal chains, torches, binoculars, remote-controlled toys.”
For further confirmation, SCMP went on to call a Beijing branch of Chinese delivery giant SF Express where a worker said that all goods mailed to Hong Kong are “severely investigated” and that sending black clothing is not allowed.
Quartz reporter Mary Hui says that this prohibition even applies to undies.
A friend's company, which makes black boxer briefs, also had its goods held up by Chinese customs. Yes, China is scrutinising black underwear. https://t.co/e1FDvMDcWw
— Mary Hui (@maryhui) October 17, 2019
Black clothing has been established as the uniform of this year’s Hong Kong protest movement. Many protesters also don black masks and continue to do so even after the Hong Kong government enacted a ban on wearing masks at demonstrations.
