Artwork removed after honouring jailed Hong Kong protesters

This image shows a part of Patrick Amadon's 'No Rioters' digital artwork. The US-based artist said his installation that showed solidarity with Hong Kong protesters on an iconic billboard in one of the city’s shopping districts was taken down due to legal concerns - an example that shows the city’s shrinking freedom of expression. Photo: AP

A Hong Kong department store took down a digital artwork that contained hidden references to jailed dissidents, in an incident the artist says is evidence of erosion of free speech in the semi-autonomous Chinese city.

It was unclear whether the government played a role in the decision to remove the artwork, it came just days after a slasher film featuring Winnie the Pooh, a figure often used in playful taunts of China’s President Xi Jinping, was pulled from local cinemas.