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[webfact]

Hong Kong protesters seek to shut down city with general strike

 

Fortress Hill station staff stand in front of gantries as the station is temporary closed due to disruption of the Mass Transit Railway (MTR) services by protesters, in Hong Kong, China August 5, 2019. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon

 

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Hong Kong was bracing for major disruptions to business on Monday as a general strike threatens to paralyse parts of the Asian financial centre, with more than 100 flights already cancelled, amid a broader anti-government campaign.

 

The strike comes after another weekend of violent protests, which the government said were pushing the city to "an extremely dangerous edge".

 

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam said she would hold a news conference at 10 a.m. local time (0200 GMT) on Monday.

 

Police said on Monday they arrested 44 people after sometimes violent clashes overnight when police fired tear gas to disperse demonstrators who moved swiftly across the city in flash mob-style actions.

 

The Chinese-controlled city has been rocked by months of protests that began against an extradition bill that would have allowed people to be sent to mainland China for trial and have since evolved into calls for greater democracy.

 

The protests have at times shut government offices, blocked roads and disrupted business, posing the greatest political challenge to the former British colony since it returned to Chinese rule in 1997.

 

Millions of people have taken to the streets to vent anger and frustration at the city's government, presenting the biggest popular challenge to Chinese leader Xi Jinping since he came to power in 2012.

 

Rail operator MTR Corp <0066.HK> announced the suspension of services between the bustling shopping district of Causeway Bay and Quarry Bay on Hong Kong island. Services from Kowloon Tong to stations close to the border with mainland China were also disrupted, Hong Kong media reported.

 

The Labour Department urged employers to show understanding and flexibility for employees' work arrangements due to traffic conditions.

 

China's official Xinhua news agency said on Sunday: "The central government will not sit idly by and let this situation continue. We firmly believe that Hong Kong will be able to overcome the difficulties and challenges ahead."

 

(Reporting by Anne Marie Roantree, Donny Kwok and Noah Sin; Editing by Paul Tait)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-08-05

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[pegman]

So what's the end game for the protesters? If it is to become a Taiwan I don't see that being on.

Edited August 5, 2019 by pegman

[Mavideol]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

China's official Xinhua news agency said on Sunday: "The central government will not sit idly by and let this situation continue.

yeahp.... let's send in the tanks like they did in 1989 at Tiananmen Square

Edited August 5, 2019 by Mavideol
spelling

[yellowboat]

1 hour ago, Mavideol said:

yeahp.... let's send in the tanks like they did in 1989 at Tiananmen Square

And kill the golden goose?  You have a Thai military perspective on things.  Once the extradition bill is fully withdrawn and Carrie Lam steps down, things will get quiet.   China needs money for their Silk Road initiative and lots of money comes from Hong Kong.  1989 was a very different China from Today.   Carrie is afraid and she should step down and take a long vacation.  Koh Tao would welcome her. 

[soalbundy]

3 hours ago, pegman said:

So what's the end game for the protesters? If it is to become a Taiwan I don't see that being on.

Chinese troops from mainland China Tiananmen sq style

[Mavideol]

3 hours ago, yellowboat said:

And kill the golden goose?  You have a Thai military perspective on things.  Once the extradition bill is fully withdrawn and Carrie Lam steps down, things will get quiet.   China needs money for their Silk Road initiative and lots of money comes from Hong Kong.  1989 was a very different China from Today.   Carrie is afraid and she should step down and take a long vacation.  Koh Tao would welcome her. 

I was making a joke and you took it too seriously.... do agree with your comment about the silk road/money thing but it will not change a dictator's mind as they are the same as they were back in 1989 living in China and know their way of thinking I can tell you not much (besides the names) changed since 1989, still same brain thinking they are the best and their way or no way

[yellowboat]

2 hours ago, Mavideol said:

I was making a joke and you took it too seriously.... do agree with your comment about the silk road/money thing but it will not change a dictator's mind as they are the same as they were back in 1989 living in China and know their way of thinking I can tell you not much (besides the names) changed since 1989, still same brain thinking they are the best and their way or no way

Funny, been in living in China / Hong Kong on and off for several years since 1989.  Could not disagree with you more.  Their thinking may be the same, but the stakes are far higher.  Sacking Carrie Lam, who is hated by the Hong Kong people, would be a rather painless way out.  Withdrawing that stupid bill too would be helpful in calming the protests.  Why would they risk almost certain victory on two losers: Carrie Lam and a law that violates Hong Kong's autonomy?   Carrie Lam has chosen one country, two systems over rule of law, isolating her from big business now.  Xi will choose an almost certain bright future over some silliness in Hong Kong.      

[Traubert]

1 hour ago, yellowboat said:

Funny, been in living in China / Hong Kong on and off for several years since 1989.  Could not disagree with you more.  Their thinking may be the same, but the stakes are far higher.  Sacking Carrie Lam, who is hated by the Hong Kong people, would be a rather painless way out.  Withdrawing that stupid bill too would be helpful in calming the protests.  Why would they risk almost certain victory on two losers: Carrie Lam and a law that violates Hong Kong's autonomy?   Carrie Lam has chosen one country, two systems over rule of law, isolating her from big business now.  Xi will choose an almost certain bright future over some silliness in Hong Kong.      

There's an issue there though. If Beijing is involved at all, they won't let her stand down. They'll point to the fact that she was democratically elected under whatever system is currently employed and if she's to go, she needs to be voted out. There isn't a majority to back a vote of no confidence, so she stays. It's kind of neatly hoisting the protestors with their own petard.

 

Once all the protestors go back to school the whole thing will fizzle like it did in 2015, and the extradition bill will go through in an amended form.

[Mavideol]

3 hours ago, yellowboat said:

Funny, been in living in China / Hong Kong on and off for several years since 1989.  Could not disagree with you more.  Their thinking may be the same, but the stakes are far higher.  Sacking Carrie Lam, who is hated by the Hong Kong people, would be a rather painless way out.  Withdrawing that stupid bill too would be helpful in calming the protests.  Why would they risk almost certain victory on two losers: Carrie Lam and a law that violates Hong Kong's autonomy?   Carrie Lam has chosen one country, two systems over rule of law, isolating her from big business now.  Xi will choose an almost certain bright future over some silliness in Hong Kong.      

Was not TF skiing about HK, that I agree with you, my point was about the way China acts when challenged by anybody, Carrie lam is a puppet but that's another topic

 

[Morch]

1 hour ago, Traubert said:

There's an issue there though. If Beijing is involved at all, they won't let her stand down. They'll point to the fact that she was democratically elected under whatever system is currently employed and if she's to go, she needs to be voted out. There isn't a majority to back a vote of no confidence, so she stays. It's kind of neatly hoisting the protestors with their own petard.

 

Once all the protestors go back to school the whole thing will fizzle like it did in 2015, and the extradition bill will go through in an amended form.

 

"If Beijing is involved at all...."

 

Funny. Keep'm coming.

 

"They'll point to the fact that she was democratically elected under whatever system is currently employed and if she's to go, she needs to be voted out."

 

Even elected officials can quit.

 

I think she's history. Perhaps not right away, but still. As for the comment about the extradition bill, kinda funny considering your opening bit. Yes, they will probably try for some same-same-but-different.

[Slip]

A general strike? Surely the Politbureau back home will be delighted?