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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Why Starbucks? The brands being attacked in Hong Kong | Why Starbucks? The brands being attacked in Hong Kong |
| (1 day later) | |
| Broken glass, raging fires, and smashed up barricades: the pictures from Hong Kong in the past few days look like random chaos. | Broken glass, raging fires, and smashed up barricades: the pictures from Hong Kong in the past few days look like random chaos. |
| But in the middle of the violence, most activists are being deliberate about the places they attack. | But in the middle of the violence, most activists are being deliberate about the places they attack. |
| So why are protesters targeting Starbucks? And the metro? And certain shops, restaurants and banks? | So why are protesters targeting Starbucks? And the metro? And certain shops, restaurants and banks? |
| There are obvious targets... | There are obvious targets... |
| Hong Kong is complex, but can largely be divided into those who support the protesters and their anti-Beijing stance, and those supportive of the mainland. | Hong Kong is complex, but can largely be divided into those who support the protesters and their anti-Beijing stance, and those supportive of the mainland. |
| So when peaceful protests turned into violence against property, big mainland firms like Bank of China and tech company Xiaomi became targets for vandalism and spray-painting. | So when peaceful protests turned into violence against property, big mainland firms like Bank of China and tech company Xiaomi became targets for vandalism and spray-painting. |
| But other less obvious places are also in the firing line. | |
| Why Starbucks? | Why Starbucks? |
| While Starbucks may be a US brand, the Hong Kong franchise is operated by a local company, Maxim's Caterers. | |
| Annie Wu, the daughter of the Maxim Group's founder, recently defended Hong Kong's police and criticised activists as "radical protesters". | Annie Wu, the daughter of the Maxim Group's founder, recently defended Hong Kong's police and criticised activists as "radical protesters". |
| She made her comments with billionaire businesswoman Pansy Ho, representing the Hong Kong Federation of Women, at the United Nations Human Rights Council on 11 September. | She made her comments with billionaire businesswoman Pansy Ho, representing the Hong Kong Federation of Women, at the United Nations Human Rights Council on 11 September. |
| The two criticised "a small group of radical protesters" using "systematic and calculated violent acts". | The two criticised "a small group of radical protesters" using "systematic and calculated violent acts". |
| So protesters started directing their anger against Maxim's and the franchises it operates. | So protesters started directing their anger against Maxim's and the franchises it operates. |
| The restaurant group is one of Hong Kong's largest, and includes other brands such as Genki Sushi and Arome bakery, which have also been targeted. | The restaurant group is one of Hong Kong's largest, and includes other brands such as Genki Sushi and Arome bakery, which have also been targeted. |
| Maxim's Caterers issued a statement saying Ms Wu "does not hold any position at the company" and was not involved in managerial decisions - but so far this has failed to satisfy protesters. | Maxim's Caterers issued a statement saying Ms Wu "does not hold any position at the company" and was not involved in managerial decisions - but so far this has failed to satisfy protesters. |
| Hong Kong protests - key facts | Hong Kong protests - key facts |
| Japanese fast food chain Yoshinoya has also come into the crosshairs. | Japanese fast food chain Yoshinoya has also come into the crosshairs. |
| After there was confusion about a Facebook post - which some read as coded criticism of police - the operator of the Hong Kong franchise said he supported the police and government. | After there was confusion about a Facebook post - which some read as coded criticism of police - the operator of the Hong Kong franchise said he supported the police and government. |
| Before long, Yoshinoya restaurants had their windows smashed and graffiti all over their walls. | Before long, Yoshinoya restaurants had their windows smashed and graffiti all over their walls. |
| Are triads involved? | Are triads involved? |
| Another targeted brand is Best Mart 360, a chain of small grocery stores. It's an example of the divisions running within the Hong Kong population. | Another targeted brand is Best Mart 360, a chain of small grocery stores. It's an example of the divisions running within the Hong Kong population. |
| The boss of Best Mart 360 is Hugo Lam Chi-fung, permanent honorary president of the Hong Kong Federation of Fujian Associations which has held several demonstrations in support of China. | The boss of Best Mart 360 is Hugo Lam Chi-fung, permanent honorary president of the Hong Kong Federation of Fujian Associations which has held several demonstrations in support of China. |
| Fujian is a Chinese province, and many local people have emigrated to Hong Kong over the years. Hong Kong's Fujianese community has been vocal in supporting the city's police force. | |
| Those demonstrations have led to clashes with activists - who have accused their opponents of being part of the Fujian triad gangs, a form of organised crime. | Those demonstrations have led to clashes with activists - who have accused their opponents of being part of the Fujian triad gangs, a form of organised crime. |
| Best Mart 360 has released several statements, insisting it is not linked to any Fujian triad. | Best Mart 360 has released several statements, insisting it is not linked to any Fujian triad. |
| The triad allegation has also been levelled against a mahjong house in a part of town home to the Fujianese community. Mahjong is a Chinese tile game, played socially. | The triad allegation has also been levelled against a mahjong house in a part of town home to the Fujianese community. Mahjong is a Chinese tile game, played socially. |
| The Yi Pei Square house was accused of hiding pro-Beijing thugs who attacked local residents. | The Yi Pei Square house was accused of hiding pro-Beijing thugs who attacked local residents. |
| The parlour has released a statement saying they are not Fujianese and in fact support the protesters' demands. | The parlour has released a statement saying they are not Fujianese and in fact support the protesters' demands. |
| Mix-ups and apologies | Mix-ups and apologies |
| There have also been cases where places have become the target of activists' anger based on mistaken assumptions of China ties. | |
| The Shanghai Commercial Bank is not mainland-owned but - despite its name - based in Hong Kong. | The Shanghai Commercial Bank is not mainland-owned but - despite its name - based in Hong Kong. |
| The Yifang bubble tea chain was also wrongly associated with the mainland when in fact it's from Taiwan. | The Yifang bubble tea chain was also wrongly associated with the mainland when in fact it's from Taiwan. |
| In both those cases, the protesters wrongly targeted outlets only to later issue an apology and in some cases even help in the cleanup. | In both those cases, the protesters wrongly targeted outlets only to later issue an apology and in some cases even help in the cleanup. |
| In order to avoid such mix-ups and to coordinate action, the activists have even come up with a colour-coding system. | In order to avoid such mix-ups and to coordinate action, the activists have even come up with a colour-coding system. |
| The colours black, red and blue are used online to differentiate between thrashing a place, spay-painting it or simply boycotting it. | The colours black, red and blue are used online to differentiate between thrashing a place, spay-painting it or simply boycotting it. |
| In the case of shops thought to support the protests, they're marked yellow with a call to actively support them. | In the case of shops thought to support the protests, they're marked yellow with a call to actively support them. |
| So why target public transport? | So why target public transport? |
| Stations along Hong Kong's MTR metro system have repeatedly been attacked, vandalised or even set on fire during the unrest. | Stations along Hong Kong's MTR metro system have repeatedly been attacked, vandalised or even set on fire during the unrest. |
| The MTR is privatised, with the Hong Kong government as the largest shareholder. | |
| In mid-August, the operator was criticised by Chinese state media for helping "rioters" move around and protest across the city. | In mid-August, the operator was criticised by Chinese state media for helping "rioters" move around and protest across the city. |
| After that, the MTR began shutting certain stations before people could gather for demonstrations. At one point the entire network was shut down. | After that, the MTR began shutting certain stations before people could gather for demonstrations. At one point the entire network was shut down. |
| Activists also accuse the operator of allegedly helping the police to arrest protesters, and of failing to release CCTV footage of alleged police brutality. | |
| Additional reporting by Lam Cho Wai, BBC News Chinese | Additional reporting by Lam Cho Wai, BBC News Chinese |