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Hong Kong to Detail Recession, Toll of Trade War, Protests

Reuters

   HONG KONG - Hong Kong is expected to confirm on Friday it plunged into
   recession for the first time in a decade, amid concerns the economy
   could be in even worse shape than feared as months of anti-government
   protests take a heavy toll.

   Preliminary figures in October showed the Chinese-ruled city's economy
   shrank by 3.2% in July-September from the preceding period, contracting
   for a second straight quarter and meeting the technical definition of a
   recession.

   With no end to the increasingly violent protests in sight, analysts say
   the slump could be long and deep, with gross domestic product seen
   shrinking further this quarter and well into next year.

   The financial and trade center was already under strong pressure from
   the prolonged tariff war between Washington and Beijing, but the
   increasingly violent demonstrations, which have gone on for more than
   five months, have delivered a decisive blow.

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