Strike Will Only Hurt The People: Pro-govt Groups

Several pro-government unions and associations on Thursday urged civil servants and other employees not to heed calls for a strike on August 5, warning such action would affect the daily lives of residents.

Calls for a citywide strike have been growing over the past few weeks on social media, with reports that teachers, bankers and others will walk out on Monday to show support for anti-government protesters who have taken to the streets again and again since early June.

Civil servants are also being encouraged to join the strike, with a separate rally by government staff also planned for Friday evening.

The pro-democracy Confederation of Trade Unions is backing the planned protest action, which some say will be a good opportunity to show the thousands of mainly young protesters that they have a lot of support from society at large.

But representatives of seven groups, including the Federation of Trade Unions and the Government Employees Association, have warned that a strike would hurt the general public.

Tam Kin-chiu, vice chairman of the Federation of Railway Trade Unions, meanwhile, urged transport workers not to join the protest action.

"We urge our members not to participate in any strike and to keep Hong Kong moving," he said.