A Toronto restaurant called Pepper Wok, which supports the Hong Kong democracy movement, was graffiti by pro-Beijing activists. (Image: Twitter)
According to foreign media reports, the suburb of Toronto, a Pepper Wok Chinese restaurant has recently been on the forefront, the reason has nothing to do with this restaurant’s cooking level, but because the restaurant boss support Hong Kong’s democracy movement, and claims that the communist party of China (pneumonia (also known as pneumonia, COVID – 19, wuhan COVID – 19) from wuhan, China, which was attacked by the pro-beijing personage.
First came a barrage of negative online reviews, then a phone threat, and last Monday’s indecent graffiti sprayed across the front of the restaurant. Others have suggested reporting the restaurant’s owners to the Communist Party authorities to make it difficult for them to return to Hong Kong.
York Police said they were investigating a possible hate crime, with local councillors describing the vandalism as “an act based on hate”.
Hong Kong immigrants and other supporters have been quick to act, and in recent days many have come to restaurants to show their support, ordering food and standing in long lines.
In online comments, some complained that Pepper Wok employees were racist toward Mandarin speakers. Most of these complainers are immigrants from mainland China.
But supporters of the Hong Kong democracy movement saw it as the latest example of provocations by Chinese Communist party loyalists on Canadian soil.
“It used to be peaceful coexistence, where you could write articles and criticize each other, but now it’s shown in a physical and violent way,” said Cheuk Kwan of the China Toronto Democracy Association. “These people come to Canada to enjoy freedom of speech, but if you criticize their China, they can’t stand it.”
Cheuk Kwan and others cite the brutal protests by Chinese students and others against pro-Hong Kong demonstrators at national rallies in Canada last year. The University of Toronto’s massive online bullying of Tibetan Canadian student leaders; There have also been similar acts against Uighur activists.
The incident highlights the sharp divide among the Chinese diaspora here, with relatively new immigrants from the mainland finding it easier than others to support Beijing’s crackdown on protesters in Hong Kong.
It is not clear what triggered this month’s confrontation. But the decor is a clear indication of the owners’ preferences. Posters at the restaurant read “Free Hong Kong” and “Save 12 Hong Kong Youths”.
A sign at the front door asks customers to wear masks to “prevent unidentified pneumonia in Wuhan.”
Threatening phone calls were made to the restaurant, and indecent graffiti was sprayed on the restaurant’s front window last week.
York Police issued a notice saying they were investigating a “potential hate incident” against the restaurant but declined to comment further.
On Facebook, Richmond Hill councillor Godwin Chan condemned the spray painting.
“Any act of vandalism is unacceptable, and acts based on hatred will not be tolerated,” he wrote.
Amateur painter Rick Choi, whose artwork commemorating the Hong Kong protests was displayed at the restaurant, said he wanted the police to investigate whether Chinese government officials were involved in planning operations against the restaurant.
“This destruction is not normal destruction,” he said. “It’s politically motivated because this shop supports democracy in Hong Kong… There should be zero tolerance.”
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