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Hong Kong ATMs running out of cash, say locals

October 7, 2019

In Hong Kong, protests intensified over the weekend after Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam's use of emergency powers to ban face masks at public gatherings.

As civil unrest picked up, locals posted pictures on social media of long queues at ATM machines and some ATM machines running out of cash.  

Run on banks: ATMs out of money across Hong Kong. Many queuing up to withdraw. Many have run out of cash. #HongKongProtests #AntiELAB #FreeHongKong

Should we all line up at ATMs as an act of civil disobedience?

Source- LIHKG pic.twitter.com/DtC9c0toUi

— Hong Kong World City 🖐🏻😷☔️ (@HKWORLDCITY) October 5, 2019

The violence forced the Hong Kong Monetary Authority to put out a notice on Saturday telling locals that some banks have had to suspend services at certain branches due to vandalized facilities and traffic disruptions.

"Bank customers are advised to use online banking or ATM services as far as possible, and check bank branches service status before visiting," the HKMA wrote. "Recent incidents of vandalism and arson attacks have seriously affected the use of banking services by the public."

Hong Kong has been rocked by four months of civil unrest. According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, on Sunday, there were "scenes of anarchy as some protesters set fires, smashed Chinese banks and subway stations, while police, outnumbered at many locations, fired volleys of tear gas and projectiles." 

On Friday, a video circulating on social media showed a protester punching a Mandarin speaking JPMorgan employee in the face outside the company's main Hong Kong offices after the banker told the crowd, "We are all Chinese."