Halloween partygoers dressed as “Squid Game” guards carry fake guns on streets despite police ban

Halloween revellers dressing up as characters of Squid Game - the viral Korean dystopian drama on Netflix -  carry imitation guns on the streets on Sunday, despite police warning that possession of fake firearms may violate the law. 

Phoebe Ng, 24, dressing up as one of the guards in Squid Game, wore a red hooded red jumpsuit and pair of black leather gloves - and held a fake gun labelled “TOY” by herself. 

“The label can lower my risk of being suspected by the police. I don’t think it looks like a real gun,” she said. 

Squid Game, the first Korean drama that hit the No.1 spot on Netflix, features a story of 456 indebted players completing a series of Korean children’s games to win a reward of KRW$45.6 billion (HK$301.1 million). The guards shoot the participants who lose in the games. 

“According to past experience, some members of the public would wear costumes or pose as TV or movie characters during Halloween and bring all kinds of theatrical props with them. In this regard, police urge members of the public not to carry any imitation firearm as props,” a police statement released on Friday read. 

Offenders may face a maximum of two years of imprisonment if convicted of owning any imitation firearms. 

“I don’t think the police statement has stopped people from buying fake guns as part of their props to celebrate Halloween,” said Kelvin Li, a shop owner of a wholesale and retail of soft guns which he has run for over 10 years. 

“The sales of our imitation and toy guns have grown drastically this month compared to September,” he added. 

Firearms arms are defined as an air gun, such as an air rifle, air gun or air pistol from which a bullet or missile can be discharged with a muzzle energy greater than 2 joules, according to the Firearms and Ammunition Ordinance (Cap. 238) of Hong Kong Laws. 

“It is easy to distinguish which kind of gun is fake. But bear in mind that never shoots airsoft guns (or BB guns) on the street, it’s illegal,” Li said.

He sells soft guns to everybody regardless of age, he said, because he is familiar with the law.

“We ordered around 200 for both the numbered tracksuits and the guard costumes. They’re all sold out within this week,” said Kit Lee, 43, an owner of a Halloween costume stall in Sham Shui Po, a popular spot for costumes and props in Hong Kong. 

Both the red hazmat suits of the guards and the aqua tracksuits of the players were the most popular this year, he added.