A Hong Kong protester sits on the shoulders of another while spray-painting an image of the infamous Pepe the Frog meme.

Filmed on August 17, the demonstrator draws the controversial meme on a wall before giving the frog a hat with the word "press" on it.

Pro-democracy activists have also been seen holding signs with the Pepe the Frog image and using it in social messaging apps.

The frog was listed as a hate symbol in 2016 by the Anti-Defamation League after racists and hate groups had adopted the meme.

However, according to Hong Kong-based photojournalist Alex Hofford, who filmed the video, protesters are using the image in an attempt to attract attention in the US and not because they are alt-right or wish to mock the press.

"The protesters have their own quirky sense of humour that doesn't always translate," Hofford says.

One Hong Kong protester sits on the shoulders of another while spray-painting graffiti onto a public wall. The image she creates is a character wearing a hard hat with the word "Press" written on it.

The satirical image shows the 'press' character holding a mobile phone with the camera pointing out.