Hong Kong is in recession.

The deepening of economic woes after 21 weeks of anti-government protests that show no signs of stopping was reported by Reuters on Oct. 28, 2019.

Paul Chan, the city's Financial Secretary, said in a blog post on Sunday, Oct. 27 that the Special Administrative Region is unlikely to achieve annual economic growth in 2019.

"The blow to our economy is comprehensive," he wrote.

He added that a preliminary estimate for third-quarter GDP on Thursday would show two successive quarters of contraction.

Two successive quarters of contraction qualifies as the technical definition of a recession.

Appeal for normalcy to return

He also said it would be "extremely difficult" to achieve the government's pre-protest forecast of 0 to 1 percent annual economic growth.

Chan wrote: "Let citizens return to normal life, let industry and commerce to operate normally, and create more space for rational dialogue."

He called the plummeting tourists numbers an "emergency", with the drop in visitor numbers down nearly 50 percent and worsening in October.

Prime shopping malls, as well as mom and pop businesses, have been forced to shutter for multiple days over the past few months.

Authorities have announced measures to support local small and medium-sized enterprises, but Chan said the measures could only "slightly reduce the pressure".

Latest ongoing protests

Things are not getting any better in Hong Kong as the internal pressures have not been released despite the paroxysm of violence.

In the latest protests on Sunday, black-clad and masked demonstrators set fire to shops and hurled petrol bombs at police.

The police responded with tear gas, water cannon and rubber bullets.

The MTR has shut services early for the past few weeks.

It said it will close around two hours earlier than normal on Monday by 11pm to repair damages.

Peaceful protests don't work

Protesters' anger have not been quelled as destruction to the city continues by angry bands of men and some women.

These Hongkongers are furious about what they view as increasing interference by Beijing in Hong Kong, which returned to Chinese rule in 1997 under a "one country, two systems" formula.

But the freedoms that were guaranteed, and not seen on the mainland, are viewed as being increasingly curtailed.

China denies meddling.

It has accused foreign governments, including the United States and Britain, of stirring up trouble.

Protesters have countered that peaceful protests in 2014, termed the "Umbrella Movement", have failed to achieved anything.

[Reuters]