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HONG KONG, CHINA - HUNDREDS of truck and bus drivers in Hong Kong staged a territory-wide protest on Tuesday demanding the government drop a fuel tax, following similar demonstrations in Europe over the oil price surge.
Around 500 of the drivers marched to the government's offices, while 300 truck, minibus, and rubbish collection vehicle drivers mounted a slow-drive protest in different parts of the southern Chinese city, organisers said.
'We are not even asking for fuel subsidies - all we want is for the government to waive the fuel tax. Otherwise, there is no way we can survive,' said Mr Stanley Chaing, a spokesman for the Fuel Price Concerning Transport Joint Conference pressure group.
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The government had earlier warned motorists to take public transport and avoid unnecessary journeys, and local media said there had not been any major disruption.
Mr Chaing's group said their action mirrored the drivers' protests in France, Spain and Portugal on Monday against a global surge in oil prices, which has caused mayhem on highways and blocked border crossings.
Mr Thomas Tam, chairman of the Hong Kong Waste Disposal Industry Association, said that some of their members were considering going on strike on Wednesday if the government did not meet their demands.
'It would be the first time we go on strike in 12 years,' he said.
Oil prices have soared since breaking through the 100 US dollar level at the start of the year, and in recent days has almost tipped 140 dollars a barrel. -- AFP
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