VANIER: The political chaos in Hong Kong is stretching into its 10th straight weekend. More pro-democracy demonstrations, including an unauthorized march, are planned for the next few hours. Now China is banning all staff of Hong Kong's flagship airline Cathay Pacific from working on flights to and from the mainland if they took part in pro-democracy protests. It's been nearly a week since more than 2,300 aviation workers joined a citywide strike that grounded hundreds of flights and caused general traffic disruption. Cathay Pacific says they're taking the directive seriously. The months of unrest and growing violence between police and protesters have taken a toll on the economy, affecting both international and local businesses. Hong Kong's chief executive says it's having a worse impact than the deadly virus outbreak in 2003.</s>CARRIE LAM, HONG KONG CHIEF EXECUTIVE (through translator): The downturn is so rapid that some people have described its arrival as a tsunami. Compared to the economic downturn that we dealt with caused by the SARS and the economic storm that came afterwards, I'm afraid the situation this time is harsher.</s>VANIER: Parts of China are on red alert as a powerful storm makes landfall in the country's eastern coast. Typhoon Lekima is battering the region with winds of 175 kilometers per hour. That's equivalent to a category 2 hurricane. Some coastal areas are now at risk of heavy rainfall and flooding. Chinese officials have dispatched rescue teams and advised businesses and schools to close down as a precaution.</s>VANIER: America on edge after back-to-back mass shootings in the U.S. The fear now being felt across the country. That is next on CNN.
Hong Kong Pro-Democracy Activists Hold Sit-in at Airport