Economy, livelihood stranded as HK's Occupy Movement extends to new month

An illegal assembly what the initiators self-claimed to be "with peace and love" has left nothing but adverse impacts on the economy and people's livelihood in Hong Kong, besides tearing apart the local community with clamorous streets in the past month.

Since the "Occupy Central" movement was announced on Sept. 28, hotels, retail stores and tourism agencies have been among the first victims to bear the brunt of the sit-in demonstrations.

After the seven-day Golden Week shopping spree of the National Day started on Oct. 1, the number of tour groups and individual visitors from the Chinese mainland to Hong Kong has dropped sharply, according to statistics from both sides.

The average lodging ratio of Hong Kong's hotels in October used to above 90 percent, however, it declined by 10 percent in the month this year, according to Yiu Si-wing, a member of Hong Kong's Legislative Council (Legco) who speaks for the tourism community.

Many retail stores located in the areas where the Occupy took place complained that their sales had dropped by at least 30 percent and some even 80 percent. It has been anticipated that this October will be the first that witnesses negative growth in the region's retail turnover since 2003 when the individual visit scheme was started.

"If the Occupy movement continues, it will inevitably bring blow to consumers' willingness in Q4 and pose indirect impact on Hong Kong's employment market," said Matthew Cheung, Secretary for Labor and Welfare Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) government.

The impact of Occupy demonstrations to the daily lives of the local citizens is more obvious. More than 200 bus routes had to be shut down or altered as the protesters occupied several main downtown expressways and commercial centers in Admiralty, Mong Kok and Causeway Bay.

Branches of more than 50 banks in those areas suspended their business. In Mong Kok, road barricades, made of bamboo and other sharp materials, erected by the Occupy protesters had brought dangers to pedestrians.

Secretary for Security Lai Tung-kwok said Monday that the illegal gathering in Mong Kok was on the verge of a "riot." A series of violent, irresponsible and illegal acts had had a very severe impact on social order, the economy and the people's livelihood, which ignited great anger from residents.

Moreover, if the Occupy Central movement supporters go to extremes, their colleagues, friends and even family members may be irritated by their extreme attitudes or behaviors, Hong Kong clinical psychologists Amos Cheung said.

Gradually a rift would be developed among Hong Kong residents and the society may be ripped apart, Cheung added.