What happens to Hong Kong’s economy when businesses are split by protests into ‘blue’ vs ‘yellow’?
- Anti-government movement keeps up attacks on ‘blue’ businesses to grow ‘yellow economy’
- Experts say attempts to split Hong Kong economy along political lines are unworkable
In a vibrant arts workshop in Hung Hom, dozens of young people, some masked, are hunched over tables hard at work.
On one wall, a large mural shows a crowd of masked and helmeted protesters dressed in black.
The young men and women in their teens and 20s are in good spirits, chatting as they turn out handmade cookies, mini fa pai – floral decorative plaques – key chains, drawings and coasters.
Many of the works carry slogans like “Five demands, not one less”, “Free Hong Kong”, “Revolution of our times” or images related to the anti-government protests which have rocked the city for more than seven months.
Everyone present is paid HK$60 an hour to attend the vocational classes organised by pro-democracy restaurant owner Cheung Chun-kit, 40, as part of what he calls the “economic circle of conscience”.
He came up with the idea of providing vocational training to help young people affected by the ongoing social unrest to equip themselves with skills and become financially independent.