Downtown Hong Kong was brought to a standstill this week by angry truckers blocking Queen's Road and Connaught Road to protest high fuel prices, reported The Standard.
Just before rush hour, four container trucks blocked the two main arteries causing a tense 45-minute standoff with police, who smashed the windows of a Mercedes car thinking it was part of the protest.
"Most of those in the industry are being forced to close their businesses and some are [having to] sell their containers, trailers and tractors," said Tang Chi-Keung of the Public Omnibus Operators' Association.
He also protested a government plan to introduce the costly Euro V fuel that would add to truckers' burdens as it comes from a single supplier. The Secretary for Home Affairs Tsang Tak-sing said he understood the industry's hardships and promised to review a tax subsidy.
Meanwhile in southern Europe two men involved in truckers' strikes were killed, one near a Grenada market in Spain while another died as he tried to stop a truck north of Lisbon.
Spaniards fear a strike that has disrupted deliveries could cause shortages and they are stockpiling fuel. Portuguese drivers have joined the strike and there were also protests in France over the impact of record oil prices, now at highs of more than US$139 per barrel.
Diesel has risen to EUR1.30 euros (US$2.02) a litre from EUR0.95 a year ago, pressuring EU governments to help heavy fuel users such as truck and taxi drivers, fishermen and farmers.
South Korea's cabinet offered to resign in the face of huge street protests. South Korean truck drivers have voted to strike over rising fuel prices, ignoring a US$10.2 billion government aid package designed to cushion the impact.
Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi pledged MYR1 billion (US$306.6 million) for the state of Sarawak and to ease a jump in fuel costs.
A decision to raise petrol prices 41 per cent and diesel by 63 further soured the mood and the opposition is calling for protests later this week.
Communists burned tyres and blocked roads in eastern India to protest fuel price rises, but elsewhere calls for strikes were largely ignored.
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