Should I stay or should I go - Hong Kong [protests]

[jakeseven7]

I work for a very large high profile multinational. We have had travel bans in place for HK for a while now like most companies, including transit through HK, the only exception being employees that are based there.

We maintain a regional Asia office in split across both Singapore and HK and also a small domestic HK office.

Yesterday I was made aware of plans to permanently close our regional Asia office in HK and move it to Singapore. We would only maintain a small satellite office in HK for domestic business and legal reasons.

Talking to other friends in large corporates the feeling is the same.

Not getting into debates on who is right or wrong but the longer this drags out the more they pull down the city with them and cause irreparable damage to the economy.

It’s a bit like Brexit and all the companies that have downsized their London offices and opened up Euro offices to hedge their bets.

What a disaster.

 

[Melburnian1]

I work for a very large high profile multinational. We have had travel bans in place for HK for a while now like most companies, including transit through HK, the only exception being employees that are based there....

Not getting into debates on who is right or wrong but the longer this drags out the more they pull down the city with them and cause irreparable damage to the economy.

It’s a bit like Brexit and all the companies that have downsized their London offices and opened up Euro offices to hedge their bets.

What a disaster.

But by 'not getting into debates' and declining above to mention that 'democracy is worth fighting for' or 'the iron fist of Marxism is the real problem' you're avoiding the issue. Would you prefer that seven million Hong Kongers be indoctrinated by an authoritarian regime that refuses citizens freedom of assembly, religion and speech?

The "disaster" is because the autocratic rulers in Beijng won't accede to four of five fairly reasonable requests.

It would be great if many of these young Hong Kongers who are demonstrating migrated to Oz. They're hard working, and can contribute much.

 

[The man with no name]

I’m flying into HK tomorrow, though only a 10 hr transit. If my plans were disrupted so be it. I strongly support the protesters, they’re fighting for their home.

 

[Pushka]

But by 'not getting into debates' and declining above to mention that 'democracy is worth fighting for' or 'the iron fist of Marxism is the real problem' you're avoiding the issue. Would you prefer that seven million Hong Kongers be indoctrinated by an authoritarian regime that refuses citizens freedom of assembly, religion and speech?

The "disaster" is because the autocratic rulers in Beijng won't accede to four of five fairly reasonable requests.

It would be great if many of these young Hong Kongers who are demonstrating migrated to Oz. They're hard working, and can contribute much.

And maybe the end of result will be the loss of international influence and western money that people have grown up with and enjoy. Honestly I can’t see this being a battle they can ever win. China does now ‘own’ HK. It’s a case of agree with the cause but it’s an un-winnable one.

 

[I love to travel]

I think China would have to committ a major human rights atrocity for anything to change for the protesters. The international pressure would be significant but the stakes would be huge. If the West blinks then its carte blanche to China for Taiwan etc....

 

[Melburnian1]

And maybe the end of result will be the loss of international influence and western money that people have grown up with and enjoy. Honestly I can’t see this being a battle they can ever win. China does now ‘own’ HK. It’s a case of agree with the cause but it’s an un-winnable one.

Not easy I agree, but many said that with the Eastern Bloc countries. And yet, after much prayer and the emergence of a strong leader in one country, look what occurred in 1989...

 

[sjk]

Not easy I agree, but many said that with the Eastern Bloc countries. And yet, after much prayer and the emergence of a strong leader in one country, look what occurred in 1989...

To which the obvious response is, look what occurred in 1989.

 

[I love to travel]

Looks like the Chinese army is getting involved.

The Chinese military helped clean up Hong Kong's streets after protests. Some pro-democracy politicians are upset | CNN

Members of the Chinese military have been spotted cleaning up Hong Kong's streets after one of the most violent weeks the city has seen in over five months of demonstrations.

edition.cnn.com

 

[cambriamarsh]

But by 'not getting into debates' and declining above to mention that 'democracy is worth fighting for' or 'the iron fist of Marxism is the real problem' you're avoiding the issue. Would you prefer that seven million Hong Kongers be indoctrinated by an authoritarian regime that refuses citizens freedom of assembly, religion and speech?

The "disaster" is because the autocratic rulers in Beijng won't accede to four of five fairly reasonable requests.

It would be great if many of these young Hong Kongers who are demonstrating migrated to Oz. They're hard working, and can contribute much.

Sorry but not a reasonable approach. First rule is looking after your staff then the business. No sensible employer puts their staff or business in harms way if it isn't necessary so if a corporate office needs to be moved to ensure their safety and the ongoing viability of the business so be it.

 

[drron]

Sorry but not a reasonable approach. First rule is looking after your staff then the business. No sensible employer puts their staff or business in harms way if it isn't necessary so if a corporate office needs to be moved to ensure their safety and the ongoing viability of the business so be it.

And coupled with the move of the regional office sends a strong message to China.

 

[sjk]

That’ll sting, economically speaking:

Mainland Chinese Carriers 4Q19 Hong Kong service changes

Mainland Chinese carriers since late-October 2019 filed service changes for flights to Hong Kong, due to on-going situation. The following is the list of changes as of mid-November 2019. Additional changes,...

www.routesonline.com

Garuda also down from 21 per week to 4.

 

[Pushka]

Not easy I agree, but many said that with the Eastern Bloc countries. And yet, after much prayer and the emergence of a strong leader in one country, look what occurred in 1989...

Yes. Good example. But I think they were a society/economy that was starting to crumble. That is not current China. I do know that an Australian University is avoiding any travel to HK currently on rationale of safety and not as a political statement.

 

[Isochronous]

Sorry but not a reasonable approach. First rule is looking after your staff then the business. No sensible employer puts their staff or business in harms way if it isn't necessary so if a corporate office needs to be moved to ensure their safety and the ongoing viability of the business so be it.

Nobody is questioning the right of businesses to relocate to SIN, but blaming it on protesters who don't want to be brainwashed and dehumanised is just wrong.

 

[cambriamarsh]

Nobody is questioning the right of businesses to relocate to SIN, but blaming it on protesters who don't want to be brainwashed and dehumanised is just wrong.

Blaming it on what is happening isn't wrong though (and I generally support the protestors)

 

[Pushka]

Nobody is questioning the right of businesses to relocate to SIN, but blaming it on protesters who don't want to be brainwashed and dehumanised is just wrong.

And the post you quoted wasnt laying blame but outlining why businesses must do everything they can to ensure their staff are safe.

 

[pauly7]

And the post you quoted wasnt laying blame but outlining why businesses must do everything they can to ensure their staff are safe.

Exactly, it’s just a reaction to what is happening and I can also confirm that one of the companies I contract for has also shuttered their HKG office (but kept the lease just in case...) and moved expats to our Bangkok office. The locals are working from home...

 

[Melburnian1]

Nobody is questioning the right of businesses to relocate to SIN, but blaming it on protesters who don't want to be brainwashed and dehumanised is just wrong.

Here's someone who appears to have been 'brainwashed and dehumanised':

Propaganda and the PLA: Military stunt in Hong Kong shows limits of 'spreading positivity' | Hong Kong Free Press HKFP

The propaganda stunt pulled on Saturday by soldiers from the Kowloon barracks of the Chinese army could be read in many ways, and speculation is now running free across Hong Kong. But in very clear ways, the action underscores the deep divide that separates political cultures and consciousness...

www.hongkongfp.com

A chap who died in 1950 could have written the above. Fairly chilling, and I don't mean that in a pleasurable sense.

(Isn't there also an AFFer whose tag is 'The Man With No Name?')

 

[Isochronous]

And the post you quoted wasnt laying blame but outlining why businesses must do everything they can to ensure their staff are safe.

Actually it was following on from an earlier post by jakeseven7 claiming that the protesters were the ones "dragging down the city" when in fact they're trying to save it.

 

[Melburnian1]

Yes. Good example. But I think they were a society/economy that was starting to crumble. That is not current China....

Isn't the jury out, given alleged unreliability of mainland Chinese economic statistics? IIRC, AFFer pauly7 confirmed previously that State owned enterprises in many cases have huge debts and are an economic basket case, and even the official statistics concede to a degree that economic growth has declined.

Mainland China has more 'defences' such as millions of CCTV cameras and its infamous 'social credit' policy, plus residents who've been taught from an early age that the CCP is 'god.'

Latest figures show HKG airport number of passengers handled in October 2019 declined 13.5 per cent (presumably compared to Oct 2018.) haven't seen figures for Australians visiting.

 

[The man with no name]

(Isn't there also an AFFer whose tag is 'The Man With No Name?')

Yeah and I'm in HK now. Albeit parked in The Pier lounge. No sign of trouble from the airport unsurprisingly.