Flights out of Hong Kong International Airport cancelled as anti-government protesters occupy terminal building
- Demonstrators don eye patches at Lantau Island hub, one of the world’s busiest international airports, in anger that a girl allegedly shot with a police beanbag round could lose an eye
- Sit-in comes after night of escalated violence inside subway stations
The Airport Authority blamed the cancellations from 4pm local time onwards on the protests which had “seriously disrupted” operations, with masses of demonstrators preventing passengers from checking in or clearing airport security.
LIVE: Follow the latest updates on Hong Kong airport disruption
“All check-in service for departure flights has been suspended. Other than the departure flights that have completed the check-in process and the arrival flights that are already heading to Hong Kong, all other flights have been cancelled for the rest of [Monday],” the operator of the Hong Kong International Airport said in a statement.
Roads leading to the airport were jammed with traffic, as busloads of protesters made their way there, many getting off their vehicles and continuing on foot because of the gridlock.
The demonstration marked the fourth straight day of protests at the Lantau Island hub, one of the world’s busiest international airports, as anti-government anger continued.
Rail operator MTR Corporation announced that it had suspended in-town check-in services at Hong Kong Station and Kowloon Station for the Airport Express until further notice.
On Sunday, clashes between protesters and police escalated, with the two camps playing cat-and-mouse across districts including Tsim Sha Tsui, Sham Shui Po, Kwai Chung and Causeway Bay. The night ended with unprecedented scenes inside MTR stations as officers unleashed tear gas inside Kwai Fong station and charged protesters inside Tai Koo station.
Among 40 people who ended up in hospital was a woman reportedly hit with a beanbag round in Tsim Sha Tsui. A doctor familiar with her case said she could lose her right eye.
From noon on Monday, the Airport Authority upped security at Hong Kong International Airport, with access to the departure hall of Terminal 1 restricted to passengers with travel documents and air tickets valid for the following 24 hours.
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The city is entering its tenth week of anti-government protests sparked by the now-shelved extradition bill, with continuous sit-ins, rallies and marches, sieges of police stations, and non-cooperation campaigns paralysing public transport.
By 3pm, thousands of protesters had joined a sit-in at the arrivals hall.
Among them was a 38-year-old businessman, surnamed Wong, who wore a makeshift patch covering only one eye, a reference to the injured protester.
He said police had “buried their humanity”.
“A girl who came out for Hongkongers lost her eye … My heart aches,” he said, holding back tears.
A 29-year-old teacher, surnamed Chan, had her eye similarly covered.
“After seeing how the protesters were arrested and harmed, I think I have to come out,” she said.
She said police had crossed the line by firing tear gas inside Kwai Fong station.
Some protesters made banners and signs that read: “Give us the eye back, rogue cop.”
Others played news footage of police chasing protesters into an MTR station on Sunday night.
The force was expected to address the accusations at a 4pm press conference.
