“We have been forced to take a stand on this moral question of right and wrong, and to stand up for our core values as social workers.”

The Hong Kong Professional Teachers’ Union (PTU) on Tuesday called on its members to attend a protest rally at the Legislative Council the next day, after school hours. The union asked school managers to be “flexible” if teachers wanted to join the rally during the day.

Union president Fung Wai-wah said it would discuss with teachers the possibility of a strike, including the date, the duration and how to ensure student safety.

“We prefer suspending normal classes, but secondary and primary school students can stay in schools and have alternative arrangements, such as taking civic education lessons,” Fung said. “But the clear message we got from teachers is the government must withdraw or at least shelve the bill.”

Meanwhile, two petitions for teachers to support a strike on Wednesday were circulating online.

100 firms pledge to close for day so staff can protest against fugitive bill

Critics have said the bill would leave Hongkongers at risk of unfair prosecution on the mainland, where they say fair trials are not guaranteed.

Several Christian groups, including the Hong Kong Christian Council, the Baptist Convention of Hong Kong and the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church Union Hong Kong, had earlier voiced concerns about the bill.

They were joined by the Catholic diocese, which issued a statement that urged the Hong Kong government and the public to show restraint, and to use peaceful means to find a solution.

“We urge the [Hong Kong government] not to rush to amend the fugitive bill before fully responding to the concerns of the legal sector and the public,” the statement read.

The church also asked all Christians to continue to pray for the city.

The archbishop of the Hong Kong Anglican Church, Sheng Kung Hui Paul Kwong, urged both sides to stay calm and rationally discuss how to resolve the dispute in a way that avoids chaos for the city.

In a message, the archbishop said: “I appeal to people in all sectors of the society to use lawful means to express their views. Especially young people, you should not defy the law and use unlawful means to express yourselves. It will hurt you, the ones who love you, and those you love, and also society as a whole.”

He urged followers to pray for Hong Kong’s stability.

Art galleries to close Wednesday in extradition bill protest

Other local Christian bodies, plus more than 100 restaurants, stores and businesses have vowed to close down for a day to allow workers to join the demonstration, which is expected to take place outside the legislature on Wednesday.

Cheung said employees would walk out of work at 10am and gather at Legco to show their solidarity and opposition, with Lam expected to take part in a question and answer session at the legislature at 11am.

He said the one-day strike was only the first step, and warned that a second or third sustained strike might be called depending on the government’s reaction.

Meanwhile, the city’s two largest labour unions representing social workers also led the call for strike action.

“In the past, our union had to proactively call on our members to strike, but this time, our members have been urging us to organise a strike since the government’s response to Sunday’s march,” said Lun Chi-wai, president of Hong Kong Social Workers’ General Union.

Lun said he hoped managers would be flexible with staffing to accommodate the strike, and the union would fully support any member who faced dismissal or a warning as a result of joining the protest. He said he believed emergency services to patients would not be affected.

The PTU said its stance on the political situation was a professional imperative.

“As professional educators, it is our duty to cultivate students’ awareness about freedom, peace, equality, sensibility and democracy,” the PTU campaign statement read.

It also said teachers could participate in the strike by calling in sick or in other ways they found suitable.

The Hong Kong Association of the Heads of Secondary Schools issued a counterstatement urging teachers and students against a strike.

“The school is a place to promote students’ learning and growth, giving them the opportunity to think carefully, respect diversity and communicate,” the statement read. “As responsible educators, we call on fellow educators to keep their posts and protect students.”

The pro-establishment Federation of Education Workers also issued a statement strongly opposing any strike by educators.

“Such behaviour is extremely unethical and shameful,” the statement read.

Meanwhile, a Facebook page asking people to go to Tamar Park on Wednesday for a picnic went viral, and more than 10,000 users said they would attend.

The park, located in Admiralty, is close to the government headquarters and the Legco building.

Part of the lawns in the area had been closed off to prevent public access, leading to speculation that the closure was related to the protest. But the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, which manages the park, said the area was closed from April 23 until Sunday for turf maintenance.

Additional reporting by Peace Chiu