Construction site's strike hurts us all, says property boss

The strike by construction-site metalworkers was having a serious impact on all Hong Kong, the deputy chairman of property giant Cheung Kong Holdings, Victor Li Tzar-kuoi, said yesterday.

Speaking as the strike continued into its second week, Mr Li said it was not just a commercial issue. 'The work progress at construction sites of private developers and government projects are all affected,' he said on the sidelines of a news conference on the results of Cheung Kong Infrastructure Holding.

'Other construction workers are also affected by the strike. It has a great impact on Hong Kong,' he said, without saying how his own group was affected.

More than 500 workers continued their protest at the Ho Man Tin construction site at the centre of the dispute over pay and working hours.

The organising secretary of the Confederation of Trade Unions (CTU), Poon Man-hon, urged the Hong Kong Bar-Bending Contractors' Association to clarify its statement on a proposed pay rise.

'The statement issued on August 12 said the association suggested the salary scale for casual workers would go up to HK$850 on August 1 and a new rate of HK$950 would be effective next year. But causal workers count for only 2 to 3 per cent of all ironworkers in Hong Kong,' Mr Poon said.