- Title: Hong Kong metro, shops stay shut after night of violent protests
- Date: 5th October 2019
- Summary: HONG KONG, CHINA (OCTOBER 5, 2019) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF CLOSED MTR STATION CLOSED MTR NOTICE CLOSED MTR SIGN MAN WITH CHILDREN STANDING OUTSIDE CLOSED STATION LOCK ON SHUTTERED GATES (SOUNDBITE) (Cantonese) 50-YEAR OLD HONG KONG RESIDENT EDWIN YU, SAYING: "I hope Hong Kong people's lives can return to normal as soon as possible and that both sides (government and protesters) can have more communication, which I think will help to solve the problem." CLOSED SHOPPING CENTRE LOCK ON DOORS SIGN EXPLAINING CLOSURE VARIOUS OF STREET WITH CLOSED SHOPS (SOUNDBITE) (Cantonese) 25-YEAR OLD HONG KONG RESIDENT KEMMY, SAYING: "I think after Carrie Lam invoked the emergency law we did feel nervous, but I believe it will rouse the consciousness of some people with regards to where they come from. I don't support (Carrie Lam's) emergency law invocation, but if it can inspire people's consciousness to their hometown, to some extent, it's good for us fighting together in the future." PEOPLE WALKING PAST BANK OF CHINA BANK OF CHINA SIGN BROKEN WINDOW BROKEN GLASS ON FLOOR VARIOUS OF PEOPLE QUEUING FOR BUS
- Embargoed: 19th October 2019 05:33
- Keywords: Hong Kong closed MTR stations shops
- Location: HONG KONG, CHINA
- City: HONG KONG, CHINA
- Country: Hong Kong
- Reuters ID: LVA001AZTJB5Z
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Hong Kong's metro system will stay shut on Saturday (October 5), the rail operator said, paralyzing transport in the Asian financial hub after a night of chaos in which police shot a teenage boy and pro-democracy protesters torched businesses and metro stations.
Friday's protests across the Chinese-ruled city erupted hours after its embattled leader, Carrie Lam, invoked colonial-era emergency powers last used more than 50 years ago to ban face masks, which demonstrators use to conceal their identities.
Increasingly violent demonstrations that have roiled the city for four months began in opposition to a bill introduced in April that would have allowed extradition to mainland China but have since spiraled into a broader pro-democracy movement.
MTR Corp said its network, which carries about 5 million passengers each day, would remain suspended, while shopping malls and supermarkets also closed, in a new blow for retailers and restaurants in a city on the edge of recession.
Protesters had set fires at stations, as well as to an empty train, and injured two staff, added MTR, which is known for operating one of the world's most efficient rail networks. All stations closed late on Friday, stranding passengers and forcing many to walk home, a situation set to worsen as the city goes into a holiday weekend.
(Production: Yuddy Cahya, Yiming Woo) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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