HWL condemns harassment of hotel customers and
damaging Hong Kong tourism

(Hong Kong, 28 April 2013) Hutchison Whampoa Limited (HWL) today strongly condemned the trouble-makers behind the container terminal strike for attempting to storm into Harbour Grand Hong Kong, harassing the hotel customers and jeopardising the reputation of Hong Kong tourism.

A spokesman for HWL said the actions taken to harass hotel customers and damage Hong Kong tourism are detestable.  Such actions showed that Lee Cheuk-yan, general secretary of the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions, and his followers have only intended to achieve their personal agenda by making trouble continuously to attract public attention right from the moment they started the industrial action.

Hong Kong International Terminals Limited (HIT) has been abiding by the law in handling the industrial action.  However, Lee Cheuk-yan and other trouble-makers have repeatedly broken the law and upset Hong Kong’s order by trespassing into HIT terminals and obstructing HIT operations.  In addition, they have blockaded Cheung Kong Center, disrupted HWL retail shops (businesses which are totally unrelated to the container terminal operations), picketed Mr Li Ka-shing’s home, and paralysed the traffic of Container Port Road South in Kwai Chung and Garden Road in Central.  Their latest harassment of hotel customers is further proof that their claim of “peaceful demonstration” was never genuine, and confirmed what HWL Group Managing Director Mr Canning Fok said earlier that Lee Cheuk-yan had never intended to reach an agreement for the workers’ benefits.

The spokesman said staging such illegal acts and resorting to Cultural Revolution-styled behaviours will not help resolve the strike.  Facing these illegal acts, the Group will fearlessly protect its interests and rights through legal means.

For inquiries, please contact:

Hutchison Whampoa Limited
Jeremy Lau
Tel  : (852) 2128 1207 / 6477 9089
Fax  : (852) 2128 1766
Email : jeremyl@hwl.com.hk