From students to company bosses, Hongkongers show support for Occupy Central
Workers - and even some bosses - say strikes and protests must continue because police use of tear gas on students went a step too far
Social workers, delivery men, teachers - Hongkongers from all walks of life left their jobs yesterday to support the Occupy Central movement and protest against the police force's use of tear gas during Sunday's demonstrations.
Secondary school and university students also boycotted classes and either joined protesters on the streets or staged assemblies on campuses.
"I could not believe that the police used tear gas against student protesters," said social worker Simon Lai, who joined an assembly at Polytechnic University attended by more than 1,000 of his colleagues. "The students were not armed. There were tens of thousands of them yesterday and the tear gas could have led to a stampede."
The assembly's organiser, the Confederation of Trade Unions, said many social workers would remain on strike until the Occupy movement ends.
At the government headquarters yesterday, Don Chan Hing-lung, chairman of the Swire Beverages (HK) Employees General Union, told cheering protesters that 200 delivery workers at a Coca-Cola plant in Sha Tin had gone on strike to support the civil disobedience movement.
"We don't care if we lose money. We are here for the future. If we don't come, there won't be one," Chan said. Another 100 workers, he said, worked the minimum number of hours required by their contract.