Black Bauhinia flag

The Black Bauhinia flag (Chinese: 黑洋紫荊旗; Cantonese Yale: hāk yèuhng jí gīng kèih) is a variant of the flag of Hong Kong with a black background and (in most versions) a modified bauhinia flower. The flag gained popularity during the 2019–2020 Hong Kong protests and is often displayed by pro-democracy protesters.[1]

2019–2020 Hong Kong protests
Background
Timeline
2019
2020
Major incidents
Tactics and methods
Fatalities
Reactions to the protests
Reactions to the Hong Kong national security law
2020
2021

Design

There are three main variants of the design: the basic design, which simply swaps out the red background for black; a variant of the black flag where a few petals are withered; and a variant of the withered flag where the petals are also bloodstained. The latter two designs also omit the stars in the petals that symbolize the People's Republic of China.

  • Hong Kong flag variant, with black background
    Hong Kong flag variant, with black background
  • Hong Kong flag variant, without the stars that represent the PRC
    Hong Kong flag variant, without the stars that represent the PRC
  • Variant with wilted petals
    Variant with wilted petals
  • More detailed variant of wilted petal version
    More detailed variant of wilted petal version

Usage
Protesters occupying the Legislative Council chamber, with a Black Bauhinia flag visible in the background.

The flag was displayed during the storming and occupation of the Legislative Council chamber by protesters on 1 July 2019. The People's Republic of China flags outside the building and at Golden Bauhinia Square were lowered, and the bloodstained variants of the Black Bauhinia were raised in their place. The Hong Kong flags were also lowered to half-mast as a sign of mourning. Five days later on 6 July, the Black Bauhinia was raised at the Cenotaph.[2]

Hong Kong customs and police consider the flag to be a violation of the Regional Flag Act and a potential trademark violation. Some lawyers, including the barrister Albert Luk, argue that the flag does not meet the specifications of the Regional Flag Act and contravenes the People's Republic of China Flag Law. However, Luk was also of the opinion that the source of the flag cannot be reliably traced without sufficient evidence, and as such, legal action cannot be taken.[3]

Ukrainian Ministry of Defence video

The Chinese and Hong Kong governments criticised the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence for including the Black Bauhinia flag in a video it posted on Twitter on 18 December 2022. In the video, the Ukrainian government thanked the foreign volunteers in the international legion for fighting against invading Russian forces.[4] The video featured a collage of flags corresponding to the volunteers' nationalities, including the Black Bauhinia flag. The Chinese foreign ministry responded by asking Ukraine to refrain from showing support to "anti-China forces in Hong Kong".[5]

See also

References
  1. Holland, Oscar (6 July 2019). "Designed as a symbol of unity, Hong Kong's flag becomes the focus of protest". CNN. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  2. "逃犯條例】香港眾志和平紀念碑升黑紫荊旗 悼反修例輕生市民". Ming Pao (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Archived from the original on 12 July 2019. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  3. Chen Shuxia; Liang Wencai (1 July 2019). "【逃犯條例】網傳金紫荊廣場被換「黑旗」 大律師：或違國旗法". Hong Kong 01 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Archived from the original on 17 July 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  4. Shi, Stacy (21 December 2022). "Ukraine under fire for black HK flag blunder". The Standard (Hong Kong). Archived from the original on 22 December 2022.
  5. Cheung, Rachel (21 December 2022). "The World Keeps Getting the Hong Kong Flag and Anthem Wrong". Vice News. Archived from the original on 21 December 2022.
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