While flexible work arrangements have become the norm for many big firms in Hong Kong as violence escalates, some of the latest warnings included more urgent concerns, after tear gas billowed by some of the world’s tallest and most expensive buildings this week.“For your safety, pls shelter in place where necessary,” a text message alert sent to staff at J.P.Morgan, and seen by Reuters, read.
Many mainland Chinese businesses, in particular banks such as BoCom, have been attacked by protesters angry at what they see as interference by Beijing in their city, despite a guarantee of autonomy when the former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997. Representatives of other banks including UBS, Citigroup, Societe Generale and Bank of America said their staff had been given permission to work remotely. A source at Prudential said all staff had been sent home.
“I’ve been here 26 years and I’m sad and disgusted at what I’m seeing,” Nicholas Loup, group vice chairman and chief executive of Chelsfield Asia, a property investment firm, told Reuters as some protesters crouched behind umbrellas nearby and rows of riot police watched.Pro-democracy protesters clap their hands as riot police leave Exchange Square during a flash mob in Hong Kong.