Anti-extradition strikes planned across Hong Kong on Monday to be ‘peaceful, rational and non-violent’, organisers say

Activists from all walks of life are set for strikes and rallies in eight districts on Monday, in what they intend to be a “completely peaceful” episode in the anti-extradition movement. Au Nok-hin, a Council Front lawmaker and one of the strike organisers, said on Friday it should be proven that not all protests need to end in confrontations with police. Activists also revised the locations for the citywide rallies set for Monday. Along with demonstrations in Admiralty, Mong Kok, Wong Tai Sin, Sha Tin, Tai Po, Tsuen Wan and Tuen Mun – the latest plan includes a rally outside Disneyland in Sunny Bay for the theme park’s employees. Organisers have so far applied for letters of no objection from the police for five out of the eight locations. Carol Ng Man-yee, chairwoman of the Confederation of Trade Unions, said labour unions from five airlines, two in the bus industry and one for MTRC employees had called on its members to strike on Monday. Activists said the plan was for workers to join the anti-extradition rally nearest to their homes. Speaking at a media briefing on Monday, Au acknowledged that many protesters had been arrested after clashes with the police. We might get into your way, but what we want to do is voice our demands in a peaceful manner Wong Yik-mo, vice-convenor of the Civil Human Rights Front “Not all anti-extradition protests end the same way,” Au said. “We have to be extremely peaceful, rational and non-violent.” Au said demonstrators would reiterate the five demands of the anti-extradition movement, including a full withdrawal of the government’s extradition bill and an independent investigation into the police’s use of force. The now-shelved extradition bill would have allowed the transfer of criminal suspects to jurisdictions where Hong Kong has no formal handover agreement, including mainland China. Wong Yik-mo, vice-convenor of the Civil Human Rights Front, urged protesters and police to stay calm and avoid conflict on Monday. Wong, who is coordinating the Tai Po rally at Fung Shui Square, apologised in advance to the public for any potential inconveniences. “We sincerely apologise to you. We might get into your way, but what we want to do is voice our demands in a peaceful manner,” Wong said. Ng said unions from five airlines – Cathay Pacific, Cathay Dragon, Hong Kong Airlines, British Airways and Finnair – had encouraged members to join the Monday strike. She said she was not sure if flights would be affected, but that companies would make manpower arrangements before Monday. Apart from the transport unions, Ng said labour associations from Chinese University and City University also made appeals for work stoppages on Monday. Ng said it was hard to gauge how many workers would actually go on strike, warning that labour protection does not apply to strikes of a political nature. “This time it is a political strike, so the level of protection is very low and close to non-existent,” Ng said. Hong Kong civil servants embarrass government with extradition protest Separately, Cardinal John Tong wrote to Catholic church officials on Friday, asking them to be lenient about employees’ requests to take Monday off to join the mass strike. “While maintaining vital services and operations, [the requests] can be handled in a relaxed manner, so our colleagues can express their concern for society,” Tong said. A spokesman from the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Market said all operations would be normal on Monday. “As the market operator in Hong Kong, keeping our markets operating and functioning is always our top priority,” he said. A Citibank spokesman said the company had a “business continuity plan in place” to minimise the impact to customers and businesses. A Standard Chartered Bank spokesman said the bank understood the current social situation and respected their staff’s right to freedom of expression. “We believe in the professionalism of our staff and trust that they can strike a balance between their own rights, the operation of the bank and the needs of our customers,” he said. Hong Kong civil servants embarrass government with extradition protest Employees at four top accountancy firms – KPMG, Deloitte, EY, and PwC – received unofficial messages urging people to take part in the strike. The firms had not yet replied to requests for comment from the Post. Kowloon Motor Bus said it would monitor the Monday strike and make necessary arrangement in bus services. The city’s railway operator, MTR Corporation, has not replied to the Post about its plans for Monday.