Port workers' strike only reflects growing discontent in Hong Kong

What is fascinating about the port workers' strike is the way in which it has escalated and the public response to it. Strikes are a rarity in Hong Kong. Usually, they are quickly settled and only involve the parties to the dispute. This one is different.

From the outset Li Ka-shing, one of Hong Kong's most prominent tycoons, became a focus of the strike. His company owns the port but it claims not to be party to the dispute as sub-contractors are responsible for hiring dockers.

It was not that long ago that Li occupied an admired place in Hong Kong society and was dubbed "Superman", the rags-to-riches tycoon with a Midas touch. Today, we hear a lot less of this talk, a reflection of growing discontent with the tycoon class. This partly explains why the strikers have been able to garner considerable public sympathy and material support.

Its cause is clear. Many people see a strong level of collusion between the tycoons and government; this breeds resentment even though it is arguable that collusion was even more prevalent during colonial times. Yet people accepted things then that they do not accept now. This surely reflects the growing maturity of civil society in Hong Kong, which, in turn, has political ramifications.

Hong Kong people clearly remember how the tycoon class moved seamlessly from being the chief cronies and apologists for the old regime to occupying exactly the same role for the new regime.

Meanwhile, the so-called leftist out-crowd from the old days has become the in-crowd. In the labour sector, this means that the traditionally stronger leftist unions are part of the establishment and more selective about supporting labour disputes, including the dockers' strike, even though the government has invited them to negotiations aimed at ending it.

This, in itself, conveys an impression of a union with special privileges. The pro-democracy Confederation of Trade Unions, which is actively involved in the strike, has filled the vacuum created by the leftist unions, which increasingly identify with the establishment.