HK protests may cost retailers £175.7m

Hong Kong's pro-democracy protests may have cost the city's retailers more than $2bn Hong Kong dollars (£175.7m), ANZ bank estimates. The demonstrations have coincided with mainland China's Golden week holiday, which usually prompts a huge influx of shoppers from the mainland. Chinese tourists account for two-thirds of all visitors to Hong Kong. But China suspended travel permits for domestic tour groups looking to visit Hong Kong because of the protests. The China National Tourism Administration told travel agencies on Monday to stop organising Hong Kong-bound tours until further notice. Closures  The decision doesn't affect tours that have already been sold, but nonetheless, there are concerns the move will lead to a further dip in business. Hong Kong retailers located near the protest sites such as Causeway Bay and Mong Kok have had to close stores because of the unrest.    — BBC