Tyranny of minority in Hong Kong takes its toll

MUCH HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT THE PERNICIOUSNESS of the tyranny of the minority in politics. But no other event in the world has ever demonstrated such obvious harm as the "Occupy Central" campaign in Hong Kong does now.

Against the wishes of the majority of Hong Kong, the illegal movement masterminded by a few political hotheads has disrupted the normal operation of the city's major commercial centers.

While the magnitude of working hours and business transactions lost due to the disruptions in the city can hardly be measured in any terms, the impact of days of street confrontations on the stock market is more readily quantified. Initial estimates have put investors' aggregate losses at no less than HK$350 billion.