The store that supplies protective gear to demonstrators in their face-off against Hong Kong police

HONG KONG — Tucked in an alley in Sai Ying Pun is the latest pop-up storefront for the National Disaster Hardware Shop, specialising in protective gear for Hong Kong’s young protesters.

The fifth pop-up shop was closed on Monday afternoon after police arrested eight of its employees — including its owner Lee Ching-hei — shortly after it opened at the Third Street location last Saturday. They were later accused of supplying “offensive weapons” and not cooperating with officers.

At a Sunday briefing, police officers claimed they found items – such as two bottles of drain cleaner, spray cans, baseballs, a baseball launcher and 12 press badges.

The arrested employees were released on bail on Monday at noon, the store said on its social media.

Ever since the store came up in early August, it has been a go-to for many young frontline protesters to buy helmets, protective masks and other supplies for their violent clashes with police.

Hong Kong has entered its fourth month of violent protests, triggered in early June by a now-abandoned extradition bill that would have allowed criminal suspects to be transferred to mainland China for trial.

A 15-year-old boy, who gave his surname only as Lau, went to the closed storefront with three of his secondary school friends on Monday afternoon to support the business, which he said offered helmets and gas masks at cheap prices.

“It’s outrageous for police to arrest them,” he said. “They are abusing their position of power.”

The shop opened its first pop-up storefront on August 3 in Mong Kok, joking that it saw a “business opportunity” in selling protest gear amid the ongoing demonstrations.

On Instagram, the shop’s description read: “There is a national emergency, ordinary people have a responsibility.”

Its staff have marked other shop locations as in Tai Po, Hung Hom, and most recently in Sai Ying Pun – all of which have now been closed to avoid police. One post on August 17 read: “People do not only need food to live, they also depend on National Disaster Hardware Shop for gear.”

It has also sold letters written by frontline protesters detailing their personal experiences and the challenges they faced in various spheres of life. The letters are sold for a minimum of HK$500 (S$89) and the money goes to the writers as a donation from public.

A chef, who gave his name as Ben, said he bought a gas mask filter from the store two weeks ago for around HK$200. He added it was now more difficult to buy protest gear in Hong Kong.

The 32-year-old said most clients at the store appeared to be student protesters, who would have to spend at least HK$500 to buy the necessary protective gear to face-off against police.

“I don’t think that the store can make any money – they must be losing money,” Ben said. “It is just a tool shop. Is it illegal now to buy tools in Hong Kong?”

Gazing across the street at the storefront, which had a handful of supportive Post-it notes pasted on its wall, he offered a few more words for the store staff: “Hong Kong people support you. Also, we need your support.” SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST