End Occupy protests to give small businesses a chance to recover, before it's too late
Felix Chung calls on protesters to withdraw before their illegal occupation causes small businesses already suffering to retrench - a no-win situation for everyone in Hong Kong
It has now been more than a month since students and protesters began unlawfully occupying several main roads in Mong Kok, Causeway Bay and Admiralty.
There can be no doubt that the Occupy movement has caused significant damage to the Hong Kong economy. Those directly affected include the retail, tourism, catering and transport sectors, small and medium-sized enterprises as well as microenterprises. They are all now facing the most difficult conditions since the severe acute respiratory syndrome outbreak in 2003.
I very much respect protesters' right to voice their opinions. However, they should, at the same time, respect the rights of others - for example, road users - and take into account the interests of the general public.
Most importantly, they should respect the rule of law. Their protest has greatly affected the business sector and that will, in turn, affect the whole economic situation and competitiveness of Hong Kong, and ultimately the employment of local people.
The inconvenience caused by blockading roads has resulted in a decline in customer sentiment. In mid-October, the Hong Kong government said that the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau had met 20 commerce organisations or associations of different trades to better understand the impact of the Occupy movement.
According to the information gathered, SME retailers in the occupied areas have experienced a drop in business, of up to 80 per cent in some cases. Associations say some overseas clients have cancelled their business trips to Hong Kong, while exhibitors have withdrawn from exhibitions and conventions. All this has also affected hotel bookings and receipts at tourist attractions in some areas.
Meanwhile, a survey conducted by the HKSMEA business association has revealed that the majority of the SMEs said they had been affected or severely affected by the Occupy movement, while more than 60 per cent said daily turnover had dropped by 40 per cent or more. Average daily losses for each amounted to over HK$11,000 .