As protests flared up again in Hong Kong yesterday in a long-running dispute over local government elections, some 12 branches of 11 banks in the city temporarily shut their doors.

As protests flared up again in Hong Kong yesterday in a long-running dispute over local government elections, some 12 branches of 11 banks in the city temporarily shut their doors.

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority said it has asked banks to “resume services as soon as circumstances permit”.

The jurisdiction’s banking industry has already warned that the sector could be harmed if protests, now two months’ old, persist in disrupting commercial life in parts of the city. Protesters are angry at moves by Mainland China to vet candidates for elections.

Media reports said police have arrested several student protest leaders they moved to clear major roads where the protests are at their most vociferous. Clashes have taken place in the Mong Kok area.

In October, a number of banking groups, such as Bank of East Asia, Standard Chartered and HSBC, among others, had to temporarily shut some branches in affected parts of Hong Kong. The HKMA reported in early October that more than 30 bank branches were affected.

Hong Kong’s banking industry will hope further disruptions do not detract from the boost that the city was seen as getting from the recently launched stock market link with Shanghai.