Shark fin protesters dropped in on unsuspecting lunchtime diners in North Point to parade the message of conservation ahead of the Lunar New Year.
Wildlife activists from the Hong Kong Shark Foundation and WildAid targeted a branch of Foo Lum Palace, whose 15 outlets across Hong Kong continue to serve shark’s fin soup, which is a popular delicacy during the extended holiday when families gather to celebrate.
The group of 10, mostly clad in shark costumes, held banners warning that sharks faced the threat of extinction if fins were not removed from menus.
Diners looked on, and some took photos, as restaurant managers confronted the group and arguments were traded over the right to conduct a protest.
One unnamed manager of the restaurant said the foundation and WildAid was getting in the way of his business and disturbing diners. This led to some face-to-face confrontations and more raucous arguments with protesters.
Joan Chan, campaign director at the foundation, said she was satisfied with the group’s work to raise awareness of the sharks’ plight.
READ MORE: Shark fin soup still served at 98 per cent of Hong Kong restaurants as restaurants choose money over environmentally friendly practices
“The customers were very curious about what’s happening here. Foo Lum Palace offer so many shark fin items on their menu. We hope people who take photos will post on social media and help us raise awareness about not eating shark fin before the Lunar New Year.”
Dorothy Yeung from WildAid said: “We just want to raise public awareness. But the restaurant had such a bad attitude.
“I think we did get the attention of the customers. That’s what we wanted to do, especially with the Chinese New Year and people are into shark fin so its is a good opportunity to let them know that sometimes what they are doing is really killing wildlife.”
The protest follows an event last weekend in Times Square, Causeway Bay, in which activists from the foundation and WildAid donned “blood-stained” costumes to grab the attention of shoppers.
READ MORE: Cathay Pacific slammed over ‘sustainable’ shark fin policy
Despite recognition among the public of conservation efforts, a Shark Foundation survey a fortnight ago revealed shark fin soup was served unabated. Over 98 per cent of 375 restaurants surveyed said they served the dish, overturning a common belief that consumption was declining in the city.
The survey claimed that 85 per cent of 2,470 menu items were linked to dwindling shark populations.
Scientists say one in four species of sharks and rays are threatened with extinction.
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