L'Oreal suspends all business travel to Hong Kong

(MENAFN- AFP) The world's top cosmetics group L'Oreal said on Tuesday it was suspending all business travel to Hong Kong due to street demonstrations that have paralysed parts of the city.

The company will be putting in place "a ban on business travel to Hong Kong until October 6," spokeswoman Stephanie Carson-Parker told AFP.

L'Oreal has a subsidiary based in Hong Kong, which is an important Asian hub for luxury goods.

A French foreign ministry spokesman said earlier Tuesday that Paris was "closely following" developments in Hong Kong and reiterated "our attachment to the right to demonstrate peacefully".

France has advised travellers to the area to exercise caution and "avoid gatherings".

Protesters have refused to budge until China grants full democracy.