- Tweeter
republish
Monday's general strike showed that at least part of Hong Kong supports the protest movement. But these blockages, in full summer, are not necessarily of the taste of everybody, in particular in Causeway Bay, a very commercial area of the city.
With our special correspondent in Hong Kong, Christophe Paget
In Hong Kong, there are more than two months of demonstrations, and no sign of softening on the part of the leaders, who still refuse the protesters' demands - among other things, the suppression of the extradition bill which has so far been only suspended, and democratic reforms.
Chen is not happy. " Of course the protests have an impact on my business," he says. It was past noon and I had only three customers in my pharmacy. There, in this normally crowded neighborhood, there are only working people or elderly people. Tourists come here to have fun. If they know what's going on, will they continue? "
► See also: China compares the crisis in Hong Kong to "color revolutions"
In the neighborhood, the time is rather gloomy. Head to the small Causeway Place Mall, meeting Siu, who runs a bake shop. " At first, I understood that the protesters had demands. But some have started to be violent, and it scares me a bit , "she says.
He added, " Near here, next to the big SoGo shopping mall, people have cut off the traffic lights. It's dangerous, it's not a way to express yourself. Police do not have to behave violently either, but they may have good reason to treat some protesters as well. "
► Also read: Joshua Wong on RFI: " We are facing Emperor Xi "
Siu also thinks that all this has had an effect on sales. Just like Jeremy Tai, who runs an embroidery shop and also notes that there are fewer customers. For its part, it tolerates the movement if it does not support it. " I do not support the protesters but here is Hong Kong, it's international, and people have the right to go out on the streets, " he said.
Before discussing youth: " Young people have great power. They can prevent customers from going to the stores. It is difficult for Beijing to communicate with them. When they do not agree with something, in fact they do not agree with anything. Young people are too idealistic. The people here, the demonstrations, it does not really interest them, what they want is to make a living. "
On June 9, the demonstrations left Victoria Park, very close to here. And they start to have a negative effect on my work. There are fewer young people and people from Hong Kong who shop in the neighborhood
Jérémi Tai, a merchant from Hong Kong 08/08/2019 - by Christophe Paget Listen