Schools, government offices partially re-open despite Hong Kong protests

World Today

The protests engulfing parts of Hong Kong have entered their ninth day, as civil servants returned to work after the territory’s government headquarters were shut down over the weekend. Schools in affected districts have also gradually begun reopening.

With barriers partially removed, Hong Kong civil servants were finally able come back to work. They walked through a passage just two meters wide, before making their way into the regional government’s headquarters.

Jin Yinqiao reports.

Hong Kong’s Central Government Offices, which usually operate 24 hours a day, had been shut down for three days. Protesters had blocked all entrances to the headquarters since last Friday.

After consultations between the government and protesters, the entrance at the east wing was cleared Sunday night. This entrance is one of three entrances to the headquarter’s building, with the other two still blocked.

The nine-day protests have dealt a heavy blow to Hong Kong’s social order. After being closed for a week, middle school students in the Wan Chai and Central Western districts returned to schools Monday morning. However, kindergartens and primary schools still remain closed.

The regional education bureau said the safety of students was the main concern, and expressed hope that all schools could reopen soon. Those who were fortunate enough to get to class left home early Monday morning to make sure they arrived on time. Having missed many days, students will have to make up for the lost time.

Meanwhile, 30 percent of the city’s bus routes, having been blocked by protesters for more than a week, are slowly getting back to normal. City officials are adding extra shuttle buses in certain parts of the city to help commuters cope with the disruptions.