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'Golden week' holiday set to lose its sparkle amid Occupy Central protests

It's not just the fireworks that are missing. With blocked roads and shops closed, customers and tourists are too. To top it off, a storm is brewing

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People pose for photos on an empty Queensway, which is blocked to traffic. Photo: Tiffany Ap

Blocked roads, closed shops, thunderstorms - and no fireworks.

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That's the bleak prospect for the start of the national day holiday, during which free-spending visitors usually provide a boost to Hong Kong's retailers.

With pro-democracy protesters camped in the key shopping districts of Causeway Bay and Mong Kok, as well as in Central and Admiralty, some shop owners are pessimistic.

Li Chung-fai, manager at gadget retailer Life Digital in Central, said sales fell 20 per cent on Monday compared with a normal weekday.

"I have children to raise," he said. "If businesses keep losing money, lay-offs may happen, which no one wants. I'm afraid the situation will end up like that of Sars, with people staying away from Hong Kong."

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