Hong Kong braces for largest citywide strike in decades as 14,000 people from 20 sectors vow to join industrial action to protest against government
- Protesters set to launch strike in eight districts, while police receive application for rally permission from six districts
- Industrial action unlikely to badly affect city’s economy, as large-scale commercial transactions might not be directly hit, says economist
Hong Kong is bracing for the largest citywide strike in decades on Monday, after about 14,000 people from 20 sectors vowed to join the industrial action against the now-abandoned extradition bill, first called for by staff unions of transport operators and social workers.
But business leaders have warned the employees of a government and an economic backlash.
Protesters were set to launch the strike in eight districts – Admiralty, Mong Kok, Sha Tin, Tai Po, Tsuen Wan, Wong Tai Sin, Tuen Mun and around the theme park Hong Kong Disneyland Resort.
Police said on Saturday they had received applications for rallies from six districts and issued no-objection letters for Admiralty, Wong Tai Sin and Tuen Mun.
Hongkongers have long put work as a priority. But now some people are defying that and supporting the five demands of the anti-extradition movement, including a full withdrawal of the now-abandoned bill and an independent investigation into police’s use of force on the demonstrators.