Hong Kong (AP) – On Tuesday, Hong Kong police defended the notion of armed revolution and denounced mobile game applications that promote a separatist agenda. They warned that anyone who publishes or shares such content online risks breaching the National Security Law.
The announcement publicly denounced the first gaming app, indicating that authorities are intensifying enforcement measures that followed the 2019 anti-government protests. The crackdown has stifled numerous dissenting voices, with prosecutions occurring under the 2020 National Security Law, which was imposed similarly to Beijing’s regulations.
In a statement, police cautioned residents against downloading the “Flip Front: Bonfire” app, noting that those who install it might be considered as possessing a publication with inflammatory intentions.
They also urged individuals not to financially support the developers of the application, including through in-app purchases.
“Flip Front: Bonfire” was released as a game intended to promote separatist agendas such as “Taiwan Independence” and “Hong Kong Independence.”
The gaming application was created by ESC Taiwan, which has not yet responded to a request for comment from the Associated Press. On the app’s Facebook page, the developer referenced a news report by the Hong Kong Broadcasting Station about the game’s name search and developments from Tuesday.
The application introduction states that players can take on the roles of characters from Hong Kong, Tibet, and Uyghur, Taiwan, or the Catering Rebel faction to challenge the communist regime. Alternatively, they can choose to lead the Communists in defeating all their adversaries.
The game’s website claims, “It’s a non-fiction work. The similarities to actual institutions, policies, or ethnic groups in the game regarding the PRC are intentional.”
As of Tuesday night, the app remained available on Apple’s App Store but was missing from the Google Play Store. The game publisher noted last month that Google Play removed the app for allowing users to adopt hateful language in naming.
Apple, Google, and Meta did not provide immediate comments.
After playing the game for around three months, Taiwan’s Kuo Hao Fu remarked that the content humorously addressed serious political issues. He opposed the police’s accusations, asserting that players could also opt to align themselves with China’s representative power.
“The actions of the Hong Kong police underline how democratic freedoms in Hong Kong have been stifled by the Chinese Communist Party,” he stated. “If this level of expression is deemed unacceptable, it fundamentally undermines creative freedom in gaming.”
China asserts that it will reclaim Taiwan using armed force if necessary. Many individuals in Taiwan have expressed concern regarding the erosion of freedoms in Hong Kong under Beijing’s authority.
The governments of Beijing and Hong Kong contend that the national security laws in the city are essential for restoring stability in the wake of the protests.
Source: apnews.com