Authorities prepare contingency plans as protesters aim to return to Hong Kong airport on Saturday despite renewal of injunction against demonstrations
- Court order against interference with airport operations renewed indefinitely on Friday but protesters intend to get around it
- Scenes of unprecedented violence erupted in airport terminal last week after five days of peaceful sit-in descended into chaos
Transport officials and police have mapped out contingency plans to cope with any protest-related disruptions to traffic around Hong Kong’s airport on Saturday, as the court indefinitely extended an injunction to prevent further obstructions to one of the world’s busiest aviation hubs.
The anti-government protest movement has Hong Kong International Airport back in its sights this weekend, with protesters trying to skirt round the court order, which only covers roads within or near Chek Lap Kok island where the hub stands as well as airport buildings. They have floated plans to mainly jam road links not on the island as well as overcrowding trains and buses to the airport, which handles 800 flights a day.
Their plans sparked a warning from the government, which said civil unrest had already damaged the local economy.
Officials reported that patronage at the airport between August 1 and August 21 stood at around 4.16 million, down more than 11 per cent on the same period last year, while air cargo fell about 14 per cent, to around 250,000 tonnes.
The number of tourists also declined further, recording a near 50 per cent fall year on year from August 15 to August 20.
Transport minister Frank Chan Fan said the government was concerned about the plans, warning that the injunction barred anyone from intentionally obstructing roads near the airport.
