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10 February 2013
Last updated at
01:11
In pictures: Political spoofs at Hong Kong New Year fair
Chinese New Year fairs in Hong Kong are mostly about flowers and decorations, but this year at the city's biggest fair, in Victoria Park, souvenirs with a jokey political theme are also part of the celebrations. (Pictures/text by BBC Chinese's Martin Yip)
This set of model figures sees last year's chief executive election candidate Henry Tang (left) holding a bottle of wine as if he is going to attack someone. His rival, Chun-ying Leung (right), has a folding chair next to him, one of the top weapons of choice in Hong Kong gangster movies.
Mr Leung took office as chief executive in July. Soon after, there were huge protests in Hong Kong against the government's move to launch Chinese patriotism classes in schools. Opponents said it was an attempt to brainwash Hong Kong children with pro-Beijing ideas. This stall was selling protective cases for smartphones portraying Mr Leung doing the "anti-brainwashing" gesture used by the protesters.
"I have never said that"; "You liar." This was the conversation between Chun-ying Leung and Henry Tang during a televised election debate, as Mr Tang accused Mr Leung of once suggesting using riot police to crack down on protests. Banging these inflated hammers replays the conversation.
On its fundraising stall, Hong Kong's Civic Party sells retractable headphones featuring Japanese red bean paste called "honesty red bean paste". The paste originally featured in a locally made film, where those who ate it told the truth. It has become a popular prop at protests against Chun-ying Leung, who is accused of lying about illegal structures at his home.
The Democratic Party taps into the tradition of gambling during the Chinese New Year holiday as they launch this "racing to step down first" dice game, modelled on the well-known Fish-Prawn-Crab game in southern China. People bet on which official's head will roll first.
This cloth bag is not exactly a political spoof, but features a popular line from a local TV drama aired last year: "If one can choose his fate [then I can walk my steps unrestrained]." Shopkeeper Mr Ng told the BBC he wanted his customers to carry hope away with them amid an unsatisfactory social situation.
In the Chinese zodiac, the upcoming year of the snake - which follows the year of the dragon - is also known as "year of the little dragon". People will wait and see whether this little dragon will lead Hong Kong's politics forward.
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