Anti-Occupy advertisement runs on MTR and buses
Grouping of business chambers is behind the commercial, which they say is not political
Business chambers are stepping up their campaign against Occupy Central by sponsoring a commercial - which they say is not a political advertisement - to run on buses and trains.
The ads came as the five groups - the General Chamber of Commerce, Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, Federation of Hong Kong Industries, Chinese Manufacturers' Association and Real Estate Developers Association - issued a statement in the Post yesterday against "unlawful civil disobedience".
They were referring to the Occupy movement, which plans to rally protesters to block Central if the government does not come up with a satisfactory plan to implement universal suffrage for the 2017 chief executive election. In the one-minute video, shown on the MTR and on buses, Hongkongers tell of how they would be affected "if Central is occupied".
"[I will] need to spend more time on transportation as … Hong Kong Island would be jammed," says an insurance agent. A woman wonders: "Will I still receive my salary if I cannot go to work?"
Jimmy Ng Wing-ka, vice-president of the Chinese Manufacturers' Association, said the commercial was not a political advertisement because it did not mention political reform.
The Communications Authority does not allow political ads on radio and television, but the rules do not apply on transport systems.
The five groups will meet the press on Monday on the possible impact of Occupy Central.