The Hong Kong Holocaust and Tolerance Centre (HKHTC) has urged young people to learn about historic hate symbols amid a social media trend involving a gesture linked to Nazism.
Social media users have been capturing themselves making apparent Nazi salutes, extending their arms in public and amassing millions of “likes.” However, commenters have said the gestures are a nostalgic tribute to Roy Cheung’s villainous character Crow from the local 1990s film series Young and Dangerous.
Crow used the gesture in the popular 1996 triad movie Young and Dangerous 3 to greet people. The trend has sparked debate on China’s Xiaohongshu and Douyin, as well as Reddit.
“[The] Hong Kong Holocaust and Tolerance Centre (HKHTC) is aware of online images showing local individuals using gestures historically linked to Nazism,” the centre told HKFP on Monday.
“Symbols connected to hateful ideologies carry a painful legacy and must not be used. We encourage everyone – especially young people – to consider the impact of such actions and to seek reliable historical information when engaging online or in public,” it added.
“[The] HKHTC remains available to support educators, community groups and the media with resources that promote understanding, tolerance and mutual respect.”
Around six million Jews were systematically murdered by the Nazi regime and its collaborators during World War II in Europe between 1941 and 1945.
The Nazi salute, also known as the Hitler salute, remains illegal in modern-day Germany, Austria, and Slovakia, and constitutes hate speech in most of Europe, Russia, the UK and Canada.
In July last year, the HKHTC condemned cosplayers making Nazi salutes in regime uniforms at an anime and games event.
The HKHTC is a local non-profit which aims to advance Holocaust education and promote tolerance.
