I arrived in Hong Kong from Sydney on a Cathay Pacific flight early Monday morning September 30 2019. I noticed that not much luggage came onto the carousel, which meant that most passengers were travelling elsewhere and using Hong Kong only as a transit.
I had reservations on coming to Hong Kong because of the ongoing political unrest, but was hopeful that things would be ok. My driver warned me twice to be careful. I have always enjoyed my visits to Hong Kong and try to do something different on each visit.
I arrived at the Eaton Hotel, Nathan Road Kowloon where I had stayed previously in 2008 and 2013. After a short rest, I walked along Nathan Road to Jordan station to see to my Elder Octopus card. I noticed as I continued walking towards the Star Ferry that a number of shops were closed.
I was to join a former student of mine for lunch at 12.30pm in a lovely restaurant in Admiralty. Valerie, a lawyer and I lunched at Ye Shanghai in Pacific Place Mall. I asked Valerie if she thought the protests would end soon and she replied “no. The biggest problem is the police brutality. “Valerie suggested that” the shops could have been shut due to rent increases.”
I checked out some of the shops in the Pacific Place shopping mall in Admiralty and then caught the train back to Jordan Station.
Tuesday October 1 2019 was Chinese National Day and the authorities expected unrest. I was going on a tour to Sha Tin Racecourse for the day and met the guide at 11.15am at YMCA Salisbury Hotel. A number of roads had been blocked by the Police and the roads were very quiet; it did not take long to get to the racecourse. The driver dropped 7 of us off at the Eaton Hotel and the other 2 passengers to their Causeway Bay Hotel late afternoon, at the conclusion of our tour -we were grateful.
It was clear that there had been a protest march in front of our hotel whilst we had been away. The glass windows on the Starbucks Café had been smashed, garbage bins were upended on the road, amongst other things. Hotel guests who witnessed it said that it was frightening.
Wednesday October 2 2019 I caught the ferry across Victoria Harbour and visited the Maritime Museum. It was a fascinating Museum which highlighted Hong Kong’s unique maritime past. At 5pm my driver took me to the Regal Airport Hotel as my flight for Amsterdam left at 12.15am Friday morning October 4 2019. I could not afford to be stranded in Kowloon because of protests and to miss my flight. On October 4 2019, the underground transport was shut down- I made it out in time.
My driver talked of the economic upheaval that the protests are causing and the loss of tourists. We drove past the construction area for the new Terminal on the way to my hotel.
Throughout my time in Amsterdam and Scotland I listened to BBC News for the latest updates on Hong Kong.
I returned to Hong Kong on a October 25 2019 Cathay Pacific lunch time flight from Amsterdam. The flight arrived in Hong Kong early morning. Many passengers were transferring to other flights. I collected my luggage and walked through to the Airport Regal Hotel.
After a short rest, I caught the Airport Express train to the City. I had to visit my tailor , who is located in the IFC building in Central. After lunch, I caught the tram to Happy Valley and then returned to the City for afternoon tea. Then back to the Airport Hotel.
On Saturday October 26 2019 The South China Morning Post newspaper had a number of excellent articles on the current political and economic situation. Kanis Leung, Denise Tsang and Fiona Sun wrote the article ‘Red Ink in A Bleeding City “. I quote below from their long article.
“The ongoing protests which began in June, and have become increasingly violent, have taken a toll on tourism with sharp declines in arrivals affecting attractions , shops, food and drink outlets, and hotels- September occupancy rates down 26%year on year.
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Unemployment in the consumption and tourism industry have risen, as well as in the food and beverage sector. More than 200 restaurants have closed from June to September 2019.
Shopping Centre operators have been hit hard by the protests. Some malls have been targeted for protests or vandalism. Assistance has been given to tenants, such as adding security and helping vandalised shops repair damage in order to resume business.
Also affected is the chain store Sasa, which has 118 outlets across Hong Kong and Macau. It is hugely popular with mainland tourists, who fill their luggage with cosmetics and skin care products. Stores are operating shorter hours. The company is looking at reducing spending on rent- by shrinking store area or relocating shops.
Retail fashion store, Sugar‘s daily take of HK$20,000 has crashed since August. Staff wages including commissions in a good month have been cut from HK $20,000 to HK $14,000. “
Denise Tsang and Fiona Sun also wrote an article “Online Shops Thriving Amid Social Unrest” which was published on October 26 2019 in The South China Morning Post .I quote from this article.
“Hong Kong’s political turmoil has given e- retailers a boost from an increase in online shopping. People are buying more groceries, clothes, ordering furniture online and ordering food to their homes instead of going out.
Daily life in Hong Kong has been disrupted by the protests and paralysed public transport, which have caused businesses to restrict their operating hours.
Popular shopping areas including Causeway Bay, Admiralty, Wan Chai and Nathan Road have been the scene of clashes between protesters and police with tear gas and live rounds fired, and damage to public property and businesses.
The MTR Corporation has shortened operating hours to carry out repairs. The disruption has affected access to nearby shopping malls and discouraged people going to troubled areas.
The protests, combined with the ongoing trade war between the USA and Beijing have hurt Hong Kong retail sales. “
The South China Morning Post also reported on October 26 2019 on the fact that “Hong Kong’s Government will consider setting up a widely demanded commission of inquiry if the public is dissatisfied with the police watchdog’s report into the use of force by officers during more than four months of chaotic and violent protests.
Chief executive, Corrie Lam, has so far rejected this core demand by protesters for an independent inquiry into allegations of police brutality since the public backlash against her now withdrawn extradition bill began in June 2019. Lam on September 26 insisted that the IPCC (Independent Police Complaints Council) was already on the job and best suited to it. “
Hong Kong has many obstacles to deal with in the months ahead.
Anne Field
Kogarah
November 12 2019
Postscript On Monday November 11 2019 a protestor, who was unarmed at a protest rally, was shot at point blank range. Violence has continued to escalate.
