Driven by anger at the authorities' response to massive protests – and guilt that the burden of defending democracy has fallen on the city's youth – a white collar rebellion is rippling out across Hong Kong.

Every day this week thousands of office workers have downed tools for a few hours, responding to a call to strike in a cheekily named "Lunch With You" rally.

Faces masked, hands held aloft, many in crisp shirts – some in suits – they chanted pro-democracy slogans and blocked roads in business districts normally characterised by a tunnel-vision for commerce, risking arrest in a rally not sanctioned by police.

On Monday and Tuesday they crouched under umbrellas, as police lobbed tear gas through Central, the city's financial heart, clouds drifting across the shopfronts of designer stores.

By Friday, deskbound workers deployed the tactics of street protest – including the swift formation of two lines creating a channel for black-clad "braves" to run through carrying bricks in anticipation of a police crackdown.

"The least we can do is give up our lunchtime to come out and protest the government," said 33-year-old lawyer Jansen.

The white collar rebels share widespread anger at the now-shelved government plan to introduce a law allowing the extradition of criminal suspects to mainland China.

Many initially joined the peaceful mega-rallies sanctioned by police against the bill.

Older and employed in city jobs, they mainly identified as 'moderates'.

But as time has passed, attitudes have calcified.

Violence against young frontline protesters, a government deaf to demands for greater democracy and a lack of police accountability has brought white collar workers to the streets with renewed conviction.

"We keep going to work every day like nothing is happening, no matter how many students are getting injured. But I can't bear to go on like this," said a 26-year-old office worker who gave his surname as Chan.

He was wearing heavy-duty workman's gloves and helping frontliners build a roadblock in Pedder Street – one of the city's most exclusive shopping areas and moments from its major banks.

"I've always been in the peaceful, rational, non-violent camp. But a lot has changed," he said.

Protesters fear Hong Kong's freedoms, unique within China, are in danger.

That has thrown the city's narrative of free market success and stability into perspective – more so as the economy has tipped into recession.

"Some values in the community cannot be only measured in terms of money," said Lawrence, a 32-year-old suited finance professional.

"What I sacrificed can never be compared with those youngsters' sacrifices," he said, adding that their "futures" are on the line.

The five day strike, which saw the city's transport network targeted by roadblocks and vandalism and brought some of the most violent unrest yet, has stretched Hong Kong police.

It has also prodded rebellion from the greatest beneficiaries of Hong Kong's once hallowed reputation for peace and stability.

"If we're peaceful they don't listen," Ms Lau, a 52-year-old entrepreneur said.

"If you're violent they say it won't solve any problems."

Govt supporters march in Hong Kong after week of chaos
Hong Kong (AFP) Nov 16, 2019 –

Government supporters took to the streets of downtown Hong Kong on Saturday after a chaotic working week saw hardcore pro-democracy activists cause widespread disruption in the city and stretch police resources.

A "Blossom Everywhere" campaign of roadblocks and vandalism across the semi-autonomous financial hub shut down large chunks of the train network and forced schools and shopping malls to close.

Students and protesters occupied several major universities around the city — the first time a movement characterised by its fluidity and unpredictability has coagulated in fixed locations — although as dusk fell on Friday, numbers had thinned out.

On Saturday morning, a group of around 500 people, mostly middle-aged and senior citizens, rallied outside the Hong Kong government's headquarters to show support for the police, who have been heavily criticised over their handling of the crisis.

Waving Chinese national flags and posters, they chanted slogans including "support police to enforce law solemnly" and "Hong Kong cockroaches, trash of our times" — mocking one of the democracy movement's major slogans, "reclaim Hong Kong, revolution of our times".

The demonstrators took photos with the stationed riot police and gave them thumbs-up signs.

Later in the afternoon, a gay pride rally was planned near the harbourfront in the Central district.

– 'Zero tolerance' –

Thousands of office workers took to the streets this week in Central, Hong Kong's financial heart, showing their support of the pro-democracy movement by raising an open hand with five fingers splayed — a reference to the five protester demands.

The Hong Kong government, however, warned its employees they will be suspended if they are caught taking part in protests.

"I must emphasise that the government has zero tolerance for civil servants violating the law," Joshua Law, Secretary for the Civil Service, said in a press conference on Friday.

"Civil servants must not participate in any illegal activities, including illegal protest gatherings."

According to the Hong Kong government, the civil service employs around 175,000 people, which is about 4.4 percent of the city's workforce.

– Clean-up operation –

After five days of the "Blossom Everywhere" tactics — which prompted police to warn the city is on the verge of "total collapse" — roads which had been blocked were slowly starting to open to traffic. However, some roads and a key tunnel remained closed.

By Saturday morning, the Chinese University of Hong Kong — the scene of some of the most fierce clashes — was vacated by protesters.

At other campuses, clear-up operations got under way to remove the barricades.

Protests have swept Hong Kong since June as many in the city of 7.5 million people have vented fury at eroding freedoms under Chinese rule.

Violence has escalated, and tensions have spread overseas, sparking friction between China and Britain, which governed Hong Kong until 1997.

Hong Kong Justice Secretary Teresa Cheng fell in London Thursday after being surrounded by pro-democracy protesters.

Cheng walked away without signs of injury, but Beijing slammed the incident as an "appalling attack" and accused Britain of fuelling the protest movement.

Two German students, aged 22 and 23, were swept up in the protests and arrested on Thursday for "unlawful assembly", and major universities in the Netherlands are advising the nearly 300 Dutch students in Hong Kong to quickly return home for security reasons.