Hong Kong - Hong Kong police fired tear gas
at protesters on Monday as a general strike plunged the Asian
financial hub into fresh chaos, paralysing transport and
bringing the city to an unprecedented standstill for much of the
morning.
As some train and bus services resumed, tens of thousands of
demonstrators fanned out across several districts, where
protests again degenerated into running clashes with riot
police.
Speaking to the media for the first time in two weeks,
Beijing-backed leader Carrie Lam warned again that the protests
were pushing the city to the edge of an "extremely dangerous
situation" and represented a challenge to China's sovereignty.
Lam remained defiant as she rejected calls from protesters
demanding her resignation, saying the government would be
resolute in maintaining law and order.
She warned that the protests were putting the former British
colony on a path of no return and had hurt its economy.
"They claim they want a revolution and to restore Hong Kong.
These actions have far exceeded their original political
demands," said a stern-faced Lam, flanked by senior members of
her administration.
Travellers check on their flights at an electronic billboard showing some flight cancellation information at the departure hall of Hong Kong International Airport in Hong Kong. Picture: Kin Cheung/AP
"These illegal acts that challenge our country's
sovereignty, and jeopardize 'one country two systems', will
destroy the stability and prosperity of Hong Kong," she said,
referring to the territory's administrative system since 1997,
when it was handed back to China.
Lam warned that the protests were pushing "the city we all
love and many of us helped to build, to the verge of a very
dangerous situation".
The protests pose the greatest political challenge to the
government of the former British colony since it returned to
Chinese rule and represent the biggest popular challenge to
Chinese leader Xi Jinping since he came to power in 2012.
Some demonstrators accused Lam of again fuelling the crisis
by ignoring public sentiment, however, and pledged to continue
their movement.
It was "totally a waste of time" to hear her speak, said Jay
Leung, 20, a university student.
"I don't think the government is doing anything to heal
society," he added. "They provide no solution to solve the
political problem brought on by themselves."
Russell, 38, who works in the tourism industry said,
"Nothing, she said nothing. I didn't hear anything positive, she
just made it worse."
Protesters carry umbrellas as they attend a demonstration in support of the city-wide strike and to call for democratic reforms in Hong Kong. Picture: Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters
COMMUTER CHAOS
Within hours of the comments, protesters hurled umbrellas
and other items at police in the residential district of Wong
Tai Sin, where officers responded with pepper spray. Police also
fired tear gas in Tin Shui Wai district, as tension flared.
The Chinese-controlled city has been rocked by months of
protests that began against an extradition bill that would have
allowed people to be sent to mainland China for trial and have
since evolved into a broader backlash against the government.
Commuters struggled to get to work in the rush hour before
Lam spoke, with many rail and bus services suspended by
activists who blocked trains from leaving stations, some by
sitting in doorways, in the latest anti-government campaign.
Long lines of traffic snaked across Hong Kong island into
the heart of the business centre and hundreds of people were
stranded at the airport, where more than 200 flights were
cancelled.
The Airport Express train service was temporarily suspended.
"(The government) are making police the scapegoat and
creating a situation that is becoming unbearable for everyone
who lives here. So that's one of the reasons we have joined the
strike," said Mark Schmidt, 49, a restaurant manager who closed
his business on Monday.
"Losing a bit of money now is not such a problem,(compared)
with losing everything that the freedom of Hong Kong used to
stand for," he added.
Lam's speech focused mainly on the violence at recent
protests, which have galvanised people to join rallies by civil
servants, teachers, lawyers and religious groups, among others.
Protesters hurl objects at the police after tear gas was fired to disperse a demonstration in support of the city-wide strike and to call for democratic reforms in Hong Kong. Picture: Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters
SHOPS SHUTTERED
In an upmarket shopping mall in Sha Tin, scores of shops
were shuttered, including clothing retailer H&M as well as
luxury brands Chanel and Dior.
Protesters in the shopping centre chanted, "Strike! Support
to the end."
Many stores in the bustling shopping district of Causeway
Bay were closed as well as businesses close to the protests.
Members of the Hong Kong Disneyland Cast Members Union went
on strike, as did many lifeguards, forcing authorities to close
some beaches and swimming pools.
Demonstrators besieged police stations over the weekend in
flash mob-style actions, spray-painting walls with graffiti and
breaking windows. More than 40 people were arrested.
Police, who some have accused of using excessive force on
protesters, said the violence was escalating rapidly and the
situation was spiralling out of control.
Authorities said 420 people have been arrested over the
protests since June 9, while police have fired 1,000 rounds of
tear gas and about 160 rubber bullets.
The government has refused to accede to any of the
protesters' main demands, which include a complete withdrawal of
the extradition bill and an independent inquiry into government
handling of the crisis.
Protesters react after tear gas was fired by the police to disperse a demonstration in support of the city-wide strike and to call for democratic reforms in Hong Kong. Picture: Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters
With tourist numbers falling and hotel occupancy rates
slumping, the protests are piling pressure on a struggling
economy.
IHS Markit's July Purchasing Managers' Index for Hong Kong
showed private sector business activity dropped to its lowest
level in a decade, weighed down by the protests and the
Sino-U.S. trade war.
Raymond Yeung, chief China economist at ANZ, said Hong Kong
now faces the double whammy of protests and the escalating trade
war.
"I would not be surprised if we see a technical recession -
two consecutive quarters of contraction. That is highly probable
now," he said.
The benchmark Hang Seng Index closed down 2.9
percent, its lowest level since January.