More than 100 Hong Kong businesses have vowed to shut for a day as anger builds over the government’s seemingly determined push to legalize extraditions to China, with protest organizers on Tuesday announcing plans for fresh protests and strikes.
Hong Kong people have responded to calls to close their shops, take a day off or skip classes on Wednesday to show their anger as the government plans to continue the second reading of the controversial extradition bill amendment, despite more than one million people taking to the streets to voice their opposition to it.
At least 130 small-and-medium-sized companies – the list is growing and included listed companies, accounting companies, law firms, online logistics platforms, bakeries, food stalls and many others – said they will close their businesses on Wednesday and let their staff join the protests outside the Legislative Council in Admiralty, the Apple Daily reported.
Most Kwai Chung Limited, the operator of the online satirical media platform TVMost and magazine 100Most, was the first locally-listed company to join the call, while celebrity Chapman To said he would not object to any request for a day off by staff at his online media platform.
Lai, an optical shop owner in Mong Kok, said closing his business for the day would result in him losing about HK$6,000 (US$765) to HK$10,000 in revenue, but how the government responded to the more than 1.03 million people who rallied on the streets on Sunday made him angry.
“What is the meaning of earning money if our Hong Kong is no longer the one that we used to know?” said Alan, the owner of a wedding dress shop.
The Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions appealed to workers to “use your own method” to request a day off on Wednesday to join the protest organized by the Civil Human Rights Front.
Meanwhile, student unions at universities were discussing a class boycott. An online parents group had already sent out an appeal on Facebook asking parents to let their children skip class and request a day off from school.
On Wednesday, lawmakers start vetting the contentious extradition bill at the full council.
Andrew Leung, the president of the Legislative Council, said he had approved 153 bill amendments out of 258 raised by lawmakers to be debated in the main chamber on Wednesday. He said that as the bill had not been discussed by a bill committee, he approved those amendments that did not violate the house rules, nowTV.com reported.
Former lawmaker Nathan Law said it was expected to take at least three weeks to debate the 153 amendments of the bill, adding that Hong Kong people should be prepared for a long-term battle over the issue, online news website thestandnews.com reported.
Michael Tien Puk-sun, another pro-government lawmaker and deputy to the National People’s Congress, revealed that he had talked to a “middleman” with the Beijing government about suggesting a postponement of the amendment to next legislative session.
Tien said that would allow more time for the government to explain the bill to Hong Kong people to ease their worries.
Meanwhile, a New Zealand court has handed down its decision on extradition to China in a verdict bound to ruffle feathers in Beijing, according to a report by AFP.
A Wellington court stopped a murder suspect being extradited to China Tuesday, saying it would not send a suspect to a country where torture was “widespread” and “systemic.”
The Court of Appeal in New Zealand overturned a ministerial decision to extradite Kyung Kim to China, saying there was a risk he would be tortured, which breached New Zealand’s international obligations.
The 99-page judgment included a damning assessment of Beijing’s justice system, something that will come as no surprise to Hong Kong residents as they prepare for Wednesday’s protest.
I think other web-site proprietors should take this site as an model, very clean and wonderful user genial style and design, let alone the content. You’re an expert in this topic!
Thankyou for all your efforts that you have put in this. very interesting info .
Hello, i read your blog from time to time and i own a similar one and i was just curious if you get a lot of spam remarks? If so how do you stop it, any plugin or anything you can suggest? I get so much lately it’s driving me crazy so any assistance is very much appreciated.
I am really enjoying the theme/design of your site. Do you ever run into any browser compatibility issues? A handful of my blog audience have complained about my blog not operating correctly in Explorer but looks great in Chrome. Do you have any recommendations to help fix this problem?
Hi there! This post could not be written any better! Reading through this post reminds me of my previous room mate! He always kept talking about this. I will forward this page to him. Fairly certain he will have a good read. Thank you for sharing!
When I originally commented I clicked the -Notify me when new feedback are added- checkbox and now each time a remark is added I get 4 emails with the identical comment. Is there any method you possibly can remove me from that service? Thanks!
After examine a couple of of the weblog posts in your web site now, and I really like your manner of blogging. I bookmarked it to my bookmark website listing and can be checking back soon. Pls check out my web site as effectively and let me know what you think.
I really enjoy reading through on this website, it contains great posts. “Beware lest in your anxiety to avoid war you obtain a master.” by Demosthenes.
I enjoy the efforts you have put in this, appreciate it for all the great posts.
I’ll immediately snatch your rss feed as I can’t find your email subscription link or newsletter service. Do you’ve any? Kindly allow me realize in order that I could subscribe. Thanks.
The next time I read a blog, I hope that it doesnt disappoint me as much as this one. I mean, I know it was my choice to read, but I actually thought youd have something interesting to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about something that you could fix if you werent too busy looking for attention.
Outstanding post, you have pointed out some superb points, I likewise conceive this s a very excellent website.
An interesting discussion is worth comment. I think that you should write more on this topic, it might not be a taboo subject but generally people are not enough to speak on such topics. To the next. Cheers
Someone necessarily help to make critically articles I might state. This is the very first time I frequented your website page and thus far? I amazed with the research you made to create this actual submit extraordinary. Great job!
Together with everything that appears to be building within this specific area, all your viewpoints tend to be quite radical. Even so, I appologize, because I do not subscribe to your whole plan, all be it radical none the less. It appears to me that your commentary are generally not completely validated and in fact you are generally yourself not even entirely convinced of your argument. In any event I did appreciate looking at it.
Hi, Neat post. There’s a problem with your site in internet explorer, would test this… IE still is the market leader and a large portion of people will miss your wonderful writing because of this problem.
hello!,I like your writing so much! share we communicate more about your article on AOL? I need an expert on this area to solve my problem. May be that’s you! Looking forward to see you.
You should take part in a contest for one of the best blogs on the web. I will recommend this site!
What’s Taking place i am new to this, I stumbled upon this I have found It absolutely helpful and it has aided me out loads. I’m hoping to give a contribution & aid other customers like its helped me. Good job.
Woh I enjoy your content, saved to favorites! .