There were no jingle bells, just the clank of handcuffs as Hong Kong police on Wednesday took away a man dressed as Father Christmas who staged a political protest that brought the city centre to a near standstill.
Demonstrator Matt Pearce cut a less-than-avuncular dash in traditional red Santa garb as he was bundled into the back of a police van following his three-hour spectacle atop a road-sign gantry straddling one of the city’s busiest roads.
The festive protest was staged to coincide with a debate in the nearby legislature on the reform of the electoral system, which opposition lawmakers are likely to veto as undemocratic.
Pearce, who is well known for staging attention-grabbing stunts to promote his International Action political group’s liberal causes, draped a huge banner across the motorway sign declaring ”People want democracy now”.
Surrounding roads were closed, causing long tailbacks, as police and firefighters tried to tempt him from his perch 9m above the road.
He finally came down after waving a Hong Kong flag and distributing leaflets. Police said Pearce was still helping officers with their inquiries.
The British campaigner hit the headlines in June when he scaled a downtown building dressed as Spider-Man to mark the anniversary of China’s June 4 1989 massacre of pro-democracy students in Beijing.
He received a suspended sentence for that offence. — Sapa-AFP