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People wait for a bus near Kwun Tong MTR station, which was closed after vandalism. Photo: Reuters
Opinion
Opinion
by Siddiq Bazarwala
Opinion
by Siddiq Bazarwala

What do the 4 million working Hongkongers think of the protests? They must speak out to help end the chaos

  • Hong Kong’s transport industry has become a core battleground between the protesters and Beijing. Ordinary working Hongkongers whose lives have been disrupted by the protests must stand up, and be seen and heard
It has been four months since the extradition bill sparked mass demonstrations in Hong Kong. As violence continues to escalate, it’s worth asking: who is the real anarchist?
In one corner, there are protesters who have attacked police officers and vandalised train stations, disrupting the lives of up to 4.9 million daily commuters. In the other, there is Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, who dug her heels in for three months before finally giving in and withdrawing the contentious bill.

In a city long known for independent rule of law, a world-class transport system and a low crime rate, the anti-government protests have unleashed a side of Hong Kong no one ever thought was possible.

A movement that started as largely peaceful protest marches to the government headquarters to demand the withdrawal of the bill built up, on July 1, to vandalism of the city’s Legislative Council. This was the first pivotal chance for the government to take control of the narrative and turn things around. Instead, it chose escalation.
Furthermore, the police added fuel to the fire by using disproportionate force against unruly civilians who were already enraged at the government’s stance on the extradition bill. Days turned into months, as their anger grew along with their list of demands.

To be fair, a subset of protesters have not made it easy for the government and the police to unclench their fists. Numerous pro-China or China-linked businesses and banks continue to be indiscriminately targeted. Meanwhile, once-busy streets in Hong Kong now resemble scenes from the Los Angeles riots in 1992, the London riots in 2011 or the Yellow Vest protests in France.

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Bricks, petrol bombs, umbrellas, wooden clubs and metal rods have also been used unhesitatingly against the police, or even civilians standing in the protesters’ way.
On the other hand, the police have fired rubber bullets, sponge grenades, projectiles, water cannons and record rounds of tear gas, despite mounting criticism.

However, while the destruction wreaked by those the government is calling radicals and rioters has understandably dominated the headlines, there is growing frustration among others who are not quite getting the column inches they deserve: namely, the businesses and employees affected by the protests.

Tourism accounts for around 5 per cent of Hong Kong’s gross domestic product and 7 per cent of employment – or more than 258,000 jobs. But with tourism now at its weakest since the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome in 2003 and August arrivals alone down 40 per cent year on year, it is only fair to expect lay-offs across the hard-hit travel, retail and food-and-beverage sectors (not to mention the key clusters servicing these sectors) in the coming months or even weeks, if the crisis is not resolved soon.

An example of a key cluster would be Hong Kong’s transport industry, which has become a core battleground between the protesters and Beijing.

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As a publicly listed, 75 per cent government-owned company, the MTR Corporation is quite possibly the Hong Kong government’s largest public-private-sector partnership, generating over US$2 billion in net profit each year.
Unlike public housing estates, schools and hospitals, MTR stations and trains are a potent symbol of government ownership. This may be partly why the stations are being repeatedly vandalised, and their entrances set alight, to the chagrin – but also, in equal measure, sympathy and tolerance – of the 7.4 million residents.
Meanwhile, Cathay Pacific, the flagship carrier and another of the city’s emblems, has been hit by a string of resignations and firings, following staff involvement in the protests. By threatening to shut Cathay Pacific out of Chinese airspace, and therefore the Chinese market, Beijing is sending a loud and clear signal to businesses large and small, far and wide, that they have to toe the line or suffer commercial consequences.

Put simply, while the protesters are attacking MTR stations to make themselves heard, Beijing is using a global brand like Cathay Pacific to send a message about the risks of speaking out against an economic empire.

As a result, businesses and even tycoons have had to walk a tightrope strung between the angry mob and Beijing.

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Ultimately, a middle path has to be found. But an immediate compromise appears to be elusive unless the vast majority of the working population of 4 million – a good 60 per cent of the total population – calls time on the chaos.

This group does not need to support the Hong Kong government or condone the angry protesters’ means of expression. They can represent either, both or none of the above. More importantly, if they exist, they need to stand up and be seen and heard.

Given the critical role of a fully functioning transport system in the lives of ordinary working Hongkongers, this group could be the underlying force that helps end the current deadlock and reach a compromise. Otherwise, Hong Kong will continue to implode while a seemingly indifferent Beijing watches from afar.

Siddiq Bazarwala is the author of a book on humanities, a Hong Kong resident and business owner

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