Hong Kong, as a cosmopolitan metropolis, can’t afford to have a break in commerce, even if it’s just for a day. Local businesses would lose revenue. Moreover, business would continue as usual globally and things in Hong Kong should continue as normal despite a difficult situation. Local firms, especially the air/sea freight business, are under contract to firms overseas. Can the local merchants declare the contract with foreign companies void simply because of the delay thus caused? If a special “holiday” were granted, it would indeed be a costly mistake that would result in severe financial loss.

It must be stressed that Lam has no right to force employers to give staff a day off as there’s no mechanism in place for her to assess the legal impact of granting “a day off” to all workers. Some people became impatient waiting for public transport, and vented their anger at the government for their tedious commute. But Hongkongers show endless patience in queuing for hours (even days) to buy a ticket to a concert, or a flat or the latest smartphone.

Peter Yim, Tin Hau