Hong Kong's business environment tarnished by protests

A passenger takes the Star Ferry from Hong Kong Island to Tsim Sha Tsui in Hong Kong, south China, Aug. 18, 2019. Hong Kong's favorable international image and business environment has been tarnished as violent and disruptive protests have been going on for more than two months. The disturbance's direct and negative effects on the economy are visible in the retail, catering and tourism industries, which have to resort to layoffs amid the sharp declines in sales, customer numbers and revenue. In the June-July period, average earnings for tourism workers plunged by 74 percent, while the number of tours in Hong Kong fell 74 percent on average, according to a survey by the Hong Kong Tour Guides General Union. (Xinhua/Lu Hanxin)