Social News
Written by: Hou Cailin
2020-01-28 10:00
Last updated: 2020-01-28 10:002019 is an unforgettable year for Hong Kong people. Conflicts between the police and the public caused by anti-modification storms have hit many industries such as retail, accommodation and catering services.
During the demonstrations, Mong Kok fell into chaos many times. Ms. Chen worked as a leaflet casual worker on the streets of Mong Kok. She felt helpless because of the constant conflict, the workload was greatly reduced, and her income was reduced by nearly half. Her work was also interrupted many times due to conflicts. She had a lingering fear in her heart, bluntly saying, "It scared me, I was shocked."
To look back on 2019, Ms. Chen concludes with "as long as the year". The Chinese New Year also intends to spend at work due to a significant decrease in income. Regarding the wishes for the New Year, Ms. Chen even "suddenly dared" and only hoped that the social environment in the new year would be improved and she was in good health.
Every day, I feel like I have a good environment.
Ms. Chen described 2019 as `` staying like a year ''Anti-revision cases have continued to this day, and the Yau Tsim Mong District has fallen into chaos many times. Ms. Chen, 60, started distributing leaflets for restaurants in the streets of Mong Kok in 2017. From time to time, she encountered demonstrations. She described the work as "confusion" over the past six months. She had to leave in a hurry when she met a demonstration. I tried "I have to leave after one or two minutes of rework", but helplessly "I wasted fares and no income."
Ms. Chen was doing leaflets casually on the streets of Mong Kok. Due to the constant conflict, her workload was greatly reduced, and her income was reduced by nearly half, which made her feel helpless. (Photo by Hou Cailin)
Debacle at work due to demonstrations
Looking back at the chaos over the past few months, the dark night of Mong Kok on August 31 also made Ms. Chen feel terrified. "I was so shocked and shocked." Ms. Chen laughed. She lived in the countryside when she was young. She was not afraid of seeing snakes and mice, but she was still very excited when she told the story. She described that as soon as she was off work at about 9:30 that night, she saw demonstrators gathering on the streets of Mong Kok. She was going to take a bus near Yalan Center to go home. The only time she got on the bus, the driver said that the bus would stop. Ms. Chen had no choice but to get off the bus and take the subway to Mong Kok Station.
Unexpectedly, as soon as she entered the Mong Kok station, Ms. Chen met a group of people in black who "jumped on the saddle horse" were jumping over the gates and ran from the station to the ground. Ms. Chen hurried into the gate and saw a man inside the station holding a hammer and facing the control room. Ms. Chen did not dare to stop or look directly at the man. "Dare to be embarrassed, so surprised." She could only go to the platform in a hurry. Entering the carriage, Ms. Chen was still unable to calm down. She described that the carriage was full, and the passengers were "sufficient to speak loudly and quietly." The door was closed several times before it was successfully closed. After the train arrived at Changshawan Station, She can breathe a sigh of relief.
Returning to the ground from Changshawan Station, Ms. Chen seemed to breathe free air again. Instead of going straight home, she first sat in the nearby park, took a breath, and relaxed before walking home.
Demonstration on August 31. (Photo / Photo by Liang Pengwei)
I only have 4,000 to 5,000 income left
Amendments to the law caused Ms. Chen's income to decrease significantly. Ms. Chen pointed out that by distributing leaflets based on hourly wages, she can earn about 50 yuan per hour. In the past, she distributed flyers to different restaurants every day for 8 hours. She laughed and said, "I'm resting." In addition to volunteering and participating in religious activities, she usually goes to work on other days, earning about 9,000 yuan a month. However, since July, the market has been bleak. Employers have reduced the number of casual workers. Ms. Chen has only 5 hours of daily working hours, and her monthly income has been greatly reduced to RMB 4,000 to RMB 5,000. Only about 4000 yuan.
Ms. Chen lives in public housing with her husband and granddaughter, while her children work in the Mainland. The weekday husband takes care of the 9-year-old granddaughter. Although the children occasionally provide financial support, most of the expenses in the family are borne by Ms. Chen alone. The pressure on her income has greatly diminished, and her pressure has multiplied. She can hardly afford the living expenses, so she can only "should eat less" and "granddaughter wants to buy something, but she has no money." In order to save money, she will also go to work every time Prepare lunch.
Seeing that the market has not improved in the past few months, Ms. Chen also planned to go to the restaurant to work and clean. However, Ms. Chen has found that the cervical spine has shifted four years ago. Her body has often been paralyzed and it is difficult to move heavy objects. Can change careers.
Ms. Chen is a casual worker distributing flyers on the streets of Mong Kok. (Profile picture / Photo by Huang Baoying)
"Dare to Dare" New Year's Wishes
Looking back on 2019, Ms. Chen summed it up with "staying like a year," and she explained that because of her poor health and low income, she felt that "every day I do it, I don't feel that I have a good environment."
The Chinese New Year is approaching. Due to her illness, Ms. Chen was inconvenienced by long-distance buses, and she rarely returned to Zhaoqing to spend the New Year in the past. In addition, the income of the previous year was greatly reduced. Therefore, the New Year only intends to "seek for it" to spend at work. Will continue to do it. " Due to the customs of their hometown, the granddaughter and husband who live together will return to the country to celebrate the Chinese New Year and reunite with their children. Ms. Chen confessed that her children were "good at staying," and she hoped that her son would come to Hong Kong to reunite in the future, so that "the elderly would have no worries." When asked about the wishes for the New Year, Ms. Chen bluntly said, "Dare to dare," and she laughed, hoping that the social environment in the new year would improve, and that she would be in good health.
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Since July last year, restaurants and restaurants have reduced the number of casual workers
Guo Hongxing, chairman of the catering trade union, said that since July last year, restaurants and restaurants have also reduced the number of casual workers. Demonstration clashes have occurred in Yau Tsim Mong District many times, and restaurants in the area often need to be closed immediately due to conflict events, affecting business. According to statistics from the Census and Statistics Department, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate from September to November last year was 3.2%, of which the unemployment rate in the food service industry rose to 6.2%, the highest level in more than 8 years.
Fugitive Ordinance Chinese New Year Unemployment Rate Rat Year 2020
