HONG KONG — From swimming floats and cut-up suitcases to toilet seat covers, protesters in Hong Kong are using household items in unorthodox ways to protect themselves, in anticipation of potential clashes with the police.

Many came armed with such items as they gathered around the Legislative Council complex early on Monday (July 1) morning to interrupt the official flag-raising ceremony commemorating Hong Kong’s handover to China.

They also constructed makeshift barricades with poles and cable ties in the morning.

As the protests wore on, TODAY saw one Hongkonger using one-half of a suitcase, which was fitted with handles, as a shield.

Another protester held a toilet-seat cover.

Many were seen wrapping cling wrap on their forearms, to prevent themselves from being burned by tear gas or pepper spray.

As the sky turned dark, groups of protesters were also seen using the cling film to wrap pieces of cardboard together to be used as shields.

Several of Monday’s protesters who have also participated in previous protests against the now-suspended extradition bill said these items started appearing after the June 12 protest, when the police sprayed tear gas and rubber bullets on protesters during clashes.

So they had to resort to using household items to construct makeshift shields to protect themselves against potential physical force from police, protesters said.

One young protester, who wanted to be known only as Mr Ng, said that he had gone to the supermarket to get these “supplies” before arriving at the protest site.

“I bought more than what I need, so that I can donate to other protesters,” said the 17-year-old student.

“We are ordinary citizens, there is no way we can get weapons or protective gear to resist the police's excessive use of force.”

A 21-year-old protester, who wanted to be known only as Ms Wong, was also seen distributing cling wrap to fellow Hongkongers.

ADVICE FROM TELEGRAM, ONLINE FORUM

Protesters told TODAY that they learned how to protect themselves using such methods through chats on messaging platform Telegram and an online forum called LIHKG.

A 17-year-old, who wanted to be known only as Tiffany, said that the online forum contains tips posted by professionals such as doctors, nurses and medical students, advising protesters on how they can protect themselves.

There are also messages telling protesters to fill their backpacks with hard items so that they can use their bags as shields.

As for Tiffany, she had also obtained phone numbers of lawyers she could call for help if she gets arrested.

For most protesters, masks, helmets, goggles and the ubiquitous umbrellas — which have become very much the symbol of the protest movement in Hong Kong — are must-haves and are deemed to be sufficient.

They did not see the need to take along makeshift shields, unlike the protesters on the frontline, they said.

Still, several of them told TODAY that they were worried about the possibility of the police using force against them.

“We don’t know what will happen even if we're not at the frontline to confront the police, they may try to use pepper spray on us or use tear gas,” said an 18-year-old protester, who wanted to be identified only as Mr Lau.

On Monday, the Hong Kong police used pepper spray and batons against the protesters as chaos reigned along the roads around the Legislative Council complex.

Later in the afternoon, protesters rammed the glass windows and doors of the complex, storming into the chambers of the building and defacing its walls.

After midnight on Tuesday, the police took control of the complex, using tear gas to clear out the protesters.

One of the demands the protesters have been constantly pushing for over the past few weeks is for the government to investigate whether the police were guilty of using excessive force.

However, Hong Kong police said on Monday that 13 officers were sent to the hospital after clashes with protesters.

The police said they have been splashed with an unidentified liquid believed to be a drain cleaner.