By Chuin-Wei Yap

HONG KONG--Tech giant Apple Inc. shut its stores early citywide on Monday, as fears of escalating violence and spiraling lawlessness linked to weekslong protests spurred concern among businesses and the public.

A day after police fired tear gas in clashes with thousands of protesters, Hong Kong remains on edge as officials conceded no ground and activists accused the government of coddling a rise in vigilante justice. In the north of the city, a mob of white-shirted men stormed a subway station late Sunday and beat people whom they blamed for taking part in the earlier antigovernment protests, leaving 45 people injured.

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam condemned the violence Monday as she was questioned by reporters about a breakdown in law and order in the city following weeks of antigovernment protests. But fears of new clashes in the city's northern districts spread on social media.

Moves by some businesses to close early come as concern rises over the impact of the social turmoil on the city's economy.

Apple joined a raft of other businesses across the city that chose to shut or send staff home early on Monday. A spokeswoman for the Cupertino, Calif.-company directed queries to information on store hours on its website.

Eli Binder, Joyu Wang and Natasha Khan contributed to this article.

Write to Chuin-Wei Yap at chuin-wei.yap@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

July 22, 2019 07:18 ET (11:18 GMT)

Copyright (c) 2019 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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