Business chambers condemn Occupy Central in newspaper ads

A leading local business chamber has joined four of its international counterparts in Hong Kong to condemn the Occupy Central movement in a statement published in several newspapers yesterday.

But a number of influential international chambers are conspicuously absent as signatories to the joint statement, which says the pro-democracy civil disobedience campaign could cripple commerce in the city's central business district.

It is the first time the city's international chambers have released a statement opposing the movement, which plans to rally protesters to blockade Central district if the government does not come up with a satisfactory plan for universal suffrage in the 2017 chief executive election.

The statement - issued by the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and Macau, the Hong Kong Bahrain Business Association and the Indian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong - was published as ads in the South China Morning Post and two Chinese-language newspapers, the Hong Kong Economic Journal and Hong Kong Economic Times, yesterday.

"Generally, the business community is apolitical, preferring to channel its energy into the economic well-being of Hong Kong," the statement said. "It is regrettable to note that the organisers of Occupy Central appear to have given insufficient thought to the potential consequences their demonstration could have for the city's economy, its businesses, its community and people, and even those visiting Hong Kong from overseas.

"Newspaper vendors, restaurants, fast-food shops and many other small businesses in Central all depend on a daily flow of customers for their livelihoods. Damage to Hong Kong's reputation could have long-lasting consequences."

The business leaders urged Occupy Central organisers to call off their planned action and to argue their case through "channels available" instead.