8月1日傍晚有金融界人士於遮打花園發起「快閃集會」,要求政府回應市民訴求。在一號風球之下冒雨出席,數百人之後到國際金融中心商場高叫口號後散去。而據發起活動人士估計,有約80間銀行4300人參與快閃集會。
大部分集會參加者身穿西裝,亮起手機閃燈,高呼「光復香港,時代革命」、「香港人罷工」等口號。有人舉起寫上「法治傾倒,資金着草」、「自由不保,人才走佬」的標語單張,警告近期事件對金融界別的影響。亦有擔心警方與黑社會勾結及最近濫捕濫告暴動。
另外現場亦有不少人呼籲金融界周一(5日)參與全港大罷工。早前連登討論區有網民發帖,發起今次的中環「快閃」集會。該帖文又指,已收到逾 700 位銀行從業員以職員證表達訴求,表明願意於8月5日加入三罷行動,包括中資銀行職員。
Thousands of financial workers braved pouring rain under Typhoon signal no.1 to gather at Chater Garden in central Hong Kong Thursday, giving that sector’s support to mass protests that have roiled the territory for weeks.
According to organisers around 4,300 from 80 banks, including Chinese banks, participated in the heart of the financial district and more than 700 workers posted photos of their staff cards to declare they would also join a city-wide strike called for next Monday.
Most of the participants in the rally wore suits, lit up their mobile phones, and shouted slogans such as “Recover Hong Kong, the Revolution of the Times” and “Hong Kong People on Strike”. Some people raised the slogan leaflet “No rule of law, funds will go”, “No freedom, talents will go”, warning the impact of recent events on the financial sector. Some are concerned about collusion between police and Triad plus recent indiscriminate arrest and riot charges.