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Downturn to hit Hong Kong like a 'tsunami', as China slaps warning on Cathay

rooster59

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rooster59 Star Member

rooster59

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Downturn to hit Hong Kong like a 'tsunami', as China slaps warning on Cathay

By Noah Sin and Clare Jim

 

2019-08-09T175011Z_1_LYNXNPEF781QX_RTROPTP_4_HONGKONG-PROTESTS.JPG

An anti-extradition bill protester burns a joss paper depicting Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam during Hungry Ghost Festival at Wong Tai Sin, in Hong Kong, China August 9, 2019. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu

 

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Hong Kong's protests are hitting its economy, the city's leader Carrie Lam said on Friday, echoing warnings from business leaders including powerful local property developers, as about 1,000 mostly young activists occupied the airport arrivals hall.

 

China, whose rule over the city is being challenged by the protests, meanwhile demanded Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways <0293.HK> suspend staff involved in the demonstrations. One of its pilots was arrested last week.

 

The pair of warnings -- one aimed at residents planning more marches still and the other at a business emblematic of the city's colonial past -- mark a toughening stance by authorities as they grapple with Hong Kong's deepest crisis in decades.

 

Flanked by business leaders, Chief Executive Lam told reporters that companies in the Asian financial hub were "very worried" about the economic fallout from the protests, which began in June and have become increasingly violent.

 

"We have had two months of political dispute," she said after meeting business representatives and senior officials, warning that a downturn "is coming very quickly".

 

"Some people have described it as coming like a tsunami ... the economic recovery will take a long time," Lam said.

 

What started as an angry response to a now-suspended measure for criminal suspects to be extradited for trial in China has rapidly broadened to encompass calls for more democracy, Lam's resignation, and even keeping out mainland tourists.

 

The protests represent a populist challenge to Chinese leader Xi Jinping, just as an escalating trade war between China and the United States also hammers Hong Kong's economy.

 

CATHAY WARNING

 

China's warning on Cathay, saying crew who engaged in the protests pose a threat to safety and should be suspended from staffing flights to the mainland, follows the pilot's arrest and tumbling bookings.

 

Cathay has said it is taking the directive seriously, though when asked about staff participating in protests last week, Chairman John Slosar said the company "wouldn't dream" of telling staff "what to think about something".

 

Dozens of other Hong Kong companies have warned of faltering earnings, while city officials caution daily that the protests are hurting livelihoods and could help trigger a recession.

 

Lam said the city's Executive Council would next week resume meetings suspended in mid-June to prepare a policy response that would consider "daring measures".

 

"For Hong Kong's society to recover the foundation is the same (as that of the economy)," she said. "We must stop the widespread violence."

 

She urged landlords to ease rents on hard-pressed retailers, but dismissed demands for an inquiry into police behaviour at demonstrations.

 

"I disagree with (establishing) an independent inquiry that targets police work," she said. "I don't think we should just sort of make concessions in order to silence the violent protesters."

 

'BROKEN CITY'

 

Young people have been at the forefront of the protests, worried about China encroaching on Hong Kong's freedoms but also concerned with issues such as sky-high living costs and what many see as an unfair housing policy favouring the wealthy.

 

Soaring property prices have pushed up rents and had a knock-on effect on prices of goods and services. Last year, Oxfam said the city's income inequality was at its highest in more than four decades.

 

Hong Kong's property developers spoke out for the first time on Friday, urging calm in a statement signed by 17 companies, including CK Asset Holdings Ltd <1113.HK>, founded by property tycoon Li Ka-shing, the city's richest man.

 

At the airport, protesters sang "Do You Hear the People Sing?" from the musical "Les Miserables" and chanted:

"Democracy now" and "Hong Kongers, add oil!" — a popular exhortation in Cantonese.

 

There was no visible police presence. Seeking to engage tourists, activists handed out anti-government leaflets and waved banners in a dozen languages.

 

"It will be a peaceful protest as long as the police do not show up," Charlotte Lam, 16, told Reuters.

 

"We have made stickers, banners in over 16 languages, ranging from Japanese to Spanish. We want to spread our message internationally. We are not rioters, we are a group of Hong Kong people fighting for human rights and freedom."

 

OLD COP ON THE BEAT

 

Marches are planned across Hong Kong, Kowloon and the New Territories over the weekend, where protesters could see a shift in police tactics.

 

To help deal with the protests, Hong Kong has recalled from retirement a police commander who oversaw the response to pro-democracy demonstrations in 2014.

 

Alan Lau Yip-shing will handle large public events, including activities to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China on Oct. 1, the government said in a statement.

 

The escalating violence has already prompted travel warnings from countries including the United States and Australia, although the airport demonstration did not prompt complaints.

 

"I don't really know what to think about the protest," said Joyce, a New Zealander.

 

"Right now I just hope it won't delay my flight. But at the same time, as long as you're making a point without making too much trouble, it's OK."

 

(Reporting By Anne Marie Roantree, Noah Sin, Donny Kwok, Clare Jim, Felix Tam, Lukas Job and Farah Master; Writing by Tom Westbrook; Editing by Darren Schuettler, Clarence Fernandez and Catherine Evans)

 

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-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-08-10
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quadperfect Apprentice Member

quadperfect

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I got cought up in this mess a few days ago. After a 14 hour flight from usa my phuket transfer flight was cancelled. I stood 6 hours in a mob like line to be told no flights today and maybe not tomorrow either. No help at all. A flat out failure on cathey pacific. They left me stranded with no hotel or any remorse. I was able to book a air asia flight for 250 usd that departed 15 hours after i landed with cathey. Cathey lost my bags for 3 days and show no remorse. What a pathetic airline.

I usually fly china airlines,or korean or malaysia  but last year tried cathey. They seemed ok but after this i will never fly cathey again. I will never go to hong kong again. Its a pathetic airport with no seating and no nothin.

Thaipe,korea,malaysia all way better airports.

Shame on cathey pacific staff. They were hostile and i nearly was cought in a riot of passengers standing in a line of a thousand people all pushing and shoving.

Cathey you are the worst airline i have ever flown. I hope this government puts you down like a rock. Thanks for nothing cathey.

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mfd101 Platinum Member

mfd101

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, quadperfect said:

I got cought up in this mess a few days ago. After a 14 hour flight from usa my phuket transfer flight was cancelled. I stood 6 hours in a mob like line to be told no flights today and maybe not tomorrow either. No help at all. A flat out failure on cathey pacific. They left me stranded with no hotel or any remorse. I was able to book a air asia flight for 250 usd that departed 15 hours after i landed with cathey. Cathey lost my bags for 3 days and show no remorse. What a pathetic airline.

I usually fly china airlines,or korean or malaysia  but last year tried cathey. They seemed ok but after this i will never fly cathey again. I will never go to hong kong again. Its a pathetic airport with no seating and no nothin.

Thaipe,korea,malaysia all way better airports.

Shame on cathey pacific staff. They were hostile and i nearly was cought in a riot of passengers standing in a line of a thousand people all pushing and shoving.

Cathey you are the worst airline i have ever flown. I hope this government puts you down like a rock. Thanks for nothing cathey.

It might be more sensible if you understood what is happening in HK and why. Shouting abuse at the collateral damage doesn't help.

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onekoolguy Advanced Member

onekoolguy

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3 hours ago, quadperfect said:

I got cought up in this mess a few days ago. After a 14 hour flight from usa my phuket transfer flight was cancelled. I stood 6 hours in a mob like line to be told no flights today and maybe not tomorrow either. No help at all. A flat out failure on cathey pacific. They left me stranded with no hotel or any remorse. I was able to book a air asia flight for 250 usd that departed 15 hours after i landed with cathey. Cathey lost my bags for 3 days and show no remorse. What a pathetic airline.

I usually fly china airlines,or korean or malaysia  but last year tried cathey. They seemed ok but after this i will never fly cathey again. I will never go to hong kong again. Its a pathetic airport with no seating and no nothin.

Thaipe,korea,malaysia all way better airports.

Shame on cathey pacific staff. They were hostile and i nearly was cought in a riot of passengers standing in a line of a thousand people all pushing and shoving.

Cathey you are the worst airline i have ever flown. I hope this government puts you down like a rock. Thanks for nothing cathey.

It's not all bad. (I guess I'm not supposed to name) But like the city! " airline" is offering BKK to SFO business class for under $1800 RT. Great Planes and around $600 RT economy class. I found flights up to about Oct. 4th. Must be due to the bad press? A few days ago it was over $3,400RT business class. I went through that airport recently and found it was just fine. Use a credit card that takes care of you when this stuff happens!

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Srikcir Platinum Member

Srikcir

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6 hours ago, rooster59 said:

a downturn "is coming very quickly".

That's good.

China's interest in Hong Kong is its financial strength and stability.

A long term economic downturn might "chase" China away, albeit hard on the Hong Kong economy but maybe that's the price for freedom?

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namatjira Senior Member

namatjira

Posted
Posted

China knows Hong Kong is a major economic breadwinner....

they will in no way wish to damage that ability with the stress they 

are already under .. they would have moved in with their army if there was no danger of an economic tsunami........

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tonbridgebrit Gold Member

tonbridgebrit

Posted
Posted
8 hours ago, zydeco said:

It must be horrible when a social protest against a totalitarian Chinese Communist dictatorship with designs on destroying people's freedom and liberty just ruins Bwana's day.


Let's get real here.
So, six or seven million Chinese in Hong Kong might be having some of their freedom restricted. Most people who are not from Hong Kong don't really care. If the media wants to talk about freedom in Hong Kong, what about freedom in mainland China ?

Them people in Vietnam, have they got the same freedom as Hong Kong ? What about Cambodia ? What about Laos ? What about Burma ? Why not talk about them ?

Why is the media making a big deal about protests in Hong Kong, protests about democracy and freedom, when such protests would not even be allowed in most countries in South East Asia ? It's BECAUSE the media in America and Europe is making a big deal about the protests in Hong Kong, giving coverage to the protests, that's whats encouraging the kids in Hong Kong to do these demonstrations.

And yes, these demonstrations are harming Hong Kong's economy. It's not surprising that tourists don't want to visit Hong Kong because of these riots/protests by these kids. Is Beijing going to give "independence" to Hong Kong because of these riots/protests ?  Off-course not.

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tonbridgebrit Gold Member

tonbridgebrit

Posted
Posted
11 hours ago, quadperfect said:

I got cought up in this mess a few days ago. After a 14 hour flight from usa my phuket transfer flight was cancelled. I stood 6 hours in a mob like line to be told no flights today and maybe not tomorrow either. No help at all. A flat out failure on cathey pacific. They left me stranded with no hotel or any remorse. I was able to book a air asia flight for 250 usd that departed 15 hours after i landed with cathey. Cathey lost my bags for 3 days and show no remorse. What a pathetic airline.

I usually fly china airlines,or korean or malaysia  but last year tried cathey. They seemed ok but after this i will never fly cathey again. I will never go to hong kong again. Its a pathetic airport with no seating and no nothin.

Thaipe,korea,malaysia all way better airports.

Shame on cathey pacific staff. They were hostile and i nearly was cought in a riot of passengers standing in a line of a thousand people all pushing and shoving.

Cathey you are the worst airline i have ever flown. I hope this government puts you down like a rock. Thanks for nothing cathey.


You got caught up in this mess, and I have sympathy for you. You want to blast Cathay Pacific, but Cathay are responsible for the riots/protests.  So Cathay's handling of the situation, Cathay's treatment towards their passengers was not good. Well, maybe you're right. But I will simply say, any other place, any other other airline, the treatment given by the airline would have probably been the same.

The advice for all tourists and travellers is, avoid Hong Kong. You are not going to enjoy Hong Kong with these riots/protests going on.

Let's hope the kids who are doing these riots, let's hope they see sense, and stop this nonsense soon.

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Opl Gold Member

Opl

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, tonbridgebrit said:


Let's get real here.
So, six or seven million Chinese in Hong Kong might be having some of their freedom restricted. Most people who are not from Hong Kong don't really care. If the media wants to talk about freedom in Hong Kong, what about freedom in mainland China ?

Them people in Vietnam, have they got the same freedom as Hong Kong ? What about Cambodia ? What about Laos ? What about Burma ? Why not talk about them ?

Why is the media making a big deal about protests in Hong Kong, protests about democracy and freedom, when such protests would not even be allowed in most countries in South East Asia ? It's BECAUSE the media in America and Europe is making a big deal about the protests in Hong Kong, giving coverage to the protests, that's whats encouraging the kids in Hong Kong to do these demonstrations.

And yes, these demonstrations are harming Hong Kong's economy. It's not surprising that tourists don't want to visit Hong Kong because of these riots/protests by these kids. Is Beijing going to give "independence" to Hong Kong because of these riots/protests ?  Off-course not.

You're right but Hong Kongese do not need western incentive to protest. If they reject the normalisation coming from Mainland China. They have so little time left, it's a lost cause.  

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drbeach Silver Member

drbeach

Posted
Posted
On 8/10/2019 at 7:04 AM, quadperfect said:

I got cought up in this mess a few days ago. After a 14 hour flight from usa my phuket transfer flight was cancelled. I stood 6 hours in a mob like line to be told no flights today and maybe not tomorrow either. No help at all. A flat out failure on cathey pacific. They left me stranded with no hotel or any remorse. I was able to book a air asia flight for 250 usd that departed 15 hours after i landed with cathey. Cathey lost my bags for 3 days and show no remorse. What a pathetic airline.

I usually fly china airlines,or korean or malaysia  but last year tried cathey. They seemed ok but after this i will never fly cathey again. I will never go to hong kong again. Its a pathetic airport with no seating and no nothin.

Thaipe,korea,malaysia all way better airports.

Shame on cathey pacific staff. They were hostile and i nearly was cought in a riot of passengers standing in a line of a thousand people all pushing and shoving.

Cathey you are the worst airline i have ever flown. I hope this government puts you down like a rock. Thanks for nothing cathey.

You should have known not to fly via Hong Kong given the circumstances. I can understand that with the lack of direct USA-Thailand flights one is forced to make a stopover somewhere, but you could have chosen to fly via South Korea, Japan, Taiwan or even Singapore. All the national carriers of these countries as well as other airlines registered in these countries have flights to Thailand and thus offer a one-stop service from the USA.

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buick Silver Member

buick

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Posted
4 hours ago, drbeach said:

You should have known not to fly via Hong Kong given the circumstances. I can understand that with the lack of direct USA-Thailand flights one is forced to make a stopover somewhere, but you could have chosen to fly via South Korea, Japan, Taiwan or even Singapore. All the national carriers of these countries as well as other airlines registered in these countries have flights to Thailand and thus offer a one-stop service from the USA.

it is highly likely the OP bought their ticket before the HK protests caused issues at the airport.  the issues at HKG are very recent.

 

glad to see the OP was smart enough to buy a ticket on another airline to solve the problem and get out of there. 

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Solinvictus Silver Member

Solinvictus

Posted
Posted
On 8/10/2019 at 11:46 AM, nahkit said:

Yes, suspended but not binned.

Exactly! I support and enjoy seeing these demonstrations! If travelers don't like it, they should plan accordingly. IMO.

 

Carrie Lam is a Beijing shill. She should be removed as she is not standing with thousands of people.

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beautifulthailand99 Gold Member

beautifulthailand99

Posted
Posted
On 8/10/2019 at 8:32 AM, namatjira said:

China knows Hong Kong is a major economic breadwinner....

they will in no way wish to damage that ability with the stress they 

are already under .. they would have moved in with their army if there was no danger of an economic tsunami........

15 years ago for sure now I'm not so sure. If they move in arrest thousands and kill a few hundred the western world will make noises but most probably do nothing. The world economy is too fragile for the west to punish China for action in it's own backyard. 

 

https://www.vox.com/2014/9/28/6857567/hong-kong-used-to-be-18-percent-of-chinas-gdp-now-its-3-percent

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Selatan Advanced Member

Selatan

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Posted

Cathay Pacific may be regretting now for not discouraging its employees from protesting. If Air China have no shares in Cathay, the mainland authorities would probably have totally banned the airline from flying into the mainland and that would have spelled the death of the British-controlled airline.

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nahkit Gold Member

nahkit

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Posted
9 hours ago, Selatan said:

Cathay Pacific may be regretting now for not discouraging its employees from protesting. If Air China have no shares in Cathay, the mainland authorities would probably have totally banned the airline from flying into the mainland and that would have spelled the death of the British-controlled airline.

Sorry, I can't agree with the idea than an employer can dictate what an employee can or can't do in their own free time.

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Selatan Advanced Member

Selatan

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Posted
1 hour ago, nahkit said:

Sorry, I can't agree with the idea than an employer can dictate what an employee can or can't do in their own free time.

Wasn't that the original stand of Cathay's management? A decision that they later regretted. Didn't know that their top people could be that stupid. China's aviation authority is 100% correct in banning any crew member that had protested from flying into China for safety reasons. I bet many other companies in HK are going to warn their employees after this.

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nahkit Gold Member

nahkit

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Posted
1 hour ago, Selatan said:

Wasn't that the original stand of Cathay's management? A decision that they later regretted. Didn't know that their top people could be that stupid. China's aviation authority is 100% correct in banning any crew member that had protested from flying into China for safety reasons. I bet many other companies in HK are going to warn their employees after this.

Yes it was their original stand and quite right too.

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tonbridgebrit Gold Member

tonbridgebrit

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25 minutes ago, nahkit said:

Yes it was their original stand and quite right too.


Do we all accept that China has the right to say  "All those who take part in protests against Beijing and China will no longer be welcome to enter mainland-China, and ALL companies that have policies that we don't like, we ban them from operating in mainland-China ?"

Surely, Beijing should have the freedom to say this, and carry it out ? I mean, if the US government has the freedom and right to ban any company selling stuff to America, if they have the freedom and right to stop any company operating in America, well, surely, China should have the same freedom and right to do this ?


Surely, Cathay Pacific would simply not survive as a company, if Beijing was to NOT allow it to operate in mainland China ?

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