Raid in Hong Kong T-shirt Shop Scares Other Artists

Wednesday 07th of November 2007 06:10:02 PM

Raid in Hong Kong T-shirt Shop Scares Other Artists

After being arrested for selling T-Shirts and other items that bore what Hong Kong police thought were gang symbols, Douglas Young, the founder of the company G.O.D., claims he didn't know that he was breaking any laws at the time. "It was designed as a play on words. We didn't think we'd break the law. If I knew the consequences I wouldn't have produced this," he said. The shirts in question contained the letters GOD mixed with Chinese lettering that spelled out 14K GOD, which is a reputed gang in the area. Young insists the lettering actually spells '14 karats of gold' and has nothing to do with gangs.

Even though Young and his employees have been released, many in the arts community in Hong Kong and surrounding areas concerned about their rights being infringed upon when they create something that some may find objectionable. "I'm scared for myself. If police can arrest people based on this kind of content, who knows if they'll arrest me tomorrow for creating something because of its political or social messages?'' said Lam Tung-pang, a multimedia artist working in Hong Kong.

After raiding three G.O.D. shops and taking eighty-eight T-Shirts and hundreds of postcards, Hong Kong police feel they did the right thing because of the increase in gang activity over the years. They are currently investigating fifty gangs who are involved in a variety of illegal activities. "From a law-enforcement perspective, the police have done the right thing. They may view the items as glorifying the triads' image," said lawyer and member of the local Legislative Council, James To.

But many artists are still concerned about their own rights and freedom to produce when they want, even if it closely resembles gang related symbols.

(c)Sabiec, www.sxc.hu