Cathay Pacific chairman resigns

Swire’s response to the crisis illustrates the lengths companies will go to avoid falling afoul of the Chinese government.

SINGAPORE: Merlin Swire, the scion of the UK family that controls Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd, is running out of concessions to offer after his employees angered China by joining the anti-Beijing protests in Hong Kong.

Less than a month ago, China’s civil aviation authority began clamping down on Hong Kong’s flag carrier, prompting Swire to swiftly fly to Beijing to try to smooth things over with officials. Since then, Cathay has fired staff and threatened to terminate workers for even supporting the demonstrations – let alone participate in them.