WISH HONG KONG BACK TO PEACE
In front of the ticketing machine at the station, a frequent visitor to Hong Kong surnamed Chen said he was surprised to find the tourist city turned empty during the peak season.
"I saw much fewer visitors in the shopping malls and streets. There were also many vacant seats on the high-speed train," he said.
Chen, leaving Hong Kong on Wednesday, said his trip was not as satisfactory as expected because he only went to Kowloon this time. "I did not go to the Hong Kong Island as usual because I heard that assemblies were held there and violent incidents may occur."
Escalated violence and vandalism occurred on Tuesday in different parts across Hong Kong, with black-clad rioters damaging properties, assaulting police, setting fires and paralyzing traffic. Many shops, restaurants and businesses were targeted by radicals.
Tse said the fresh bout of violence had brought the most tremendous challenge in their life time for many retailers. Many of the HKRMA members were forced to close. Some managed to open, but their sales dropped to only 10 to 20 percent, she said.
The Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce said the radicals' chilling disregard for rule of law is not only affecting Hong Kong's reputation as an international financial and business center, but also crippling many small businesses and threatening the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of ordinary citizens.
In a post on her social media account late Tuesday, Hong Kong resident Michelle Ma complained about her exhausting journey home from West Kowloon Station, with a photo of her husband and son dragging luggage in an empty street in the evening.
"Last year, also on this day, we arrived at West Kowloon Station, enjoyed the National Day fireworks display at Victoria Harbor and went home happily. Today, the fireworks display is canceled, nearby Kowloon metro station is closed, bus services stop and there is no available taxi..." she wrote.
After making a detour and transfer in the metro system, Ma and her family finally reached a station three stops away from their home on Hong Kong Island, but had to finish the last leg of journey on foot due to the station closure and bus service suspension.
"My greatest wish at the moment is for Hong Kong to return to peace soon," she said.
