Ratings agency Moody’s warned yesterday that prolonged discord in Hong Kong over China’s refusal to grant the key financial hub full democracy was still likely and would hurt the city’s economy.
Activists in the former British colony had their hopes for genuine democracy dashed after China announced last week that the city’s next leader would be vetted by a pro-Beijing committee.
A coalition of pro-democracy groups, led by Occupy Central, have vowed to usher in a new “era of civil disobedience” against the decision, calling on followers to blockade major thoroughfares in the city’s financial district.