Mong Kok shop owners fearful for future of businesses after Occupy protests

Owners of street-level shops in Mong Kok are pessimistic of a return to pre-Occupy business levels unless mainland tourists return en masse - though those based on upper floors said they saw no loss of trade until police moved in to end the two-month protest this week.

Traffic was moving freely along Nathan Road through the heart of the commercial hub yesterday after the pro-democracy protesters were removed. But among shopkeepers, many of whom have seen rents soar in recent years, passions continued to run high.

"If the officers would lend me a gun, I would have gone to Nathan Road and shot all those useless youths dead," said the owner of a leather shoe shop on Portland Street.

The 65-year-old, who has run his business in Mong Kok for 35 years, said the past two months had been the "worst ever". He had seen monthly revenue halved to about HK$150,000 and was forced to let two employees go last month.

Mainland visitors, the biggest buyers of his high-end products, were too scared to go to Mong Kok during the Occupy protests, he said.

Asked for his view on the protesters' cause, he added: "I don't care who the emperor is as long as there is rice in my bowl."