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.
“As far as the Airport Authority, police, Transport Department and all associated aviation stakeholders [are concerned], together, we do have contingency measures to tackle such demonstrations,” said Chan, who would not reveal details.
A peaceful five-day mass sit-in at the airport descended into chaos a little over a week ago, with protesters blocking passengers from leaving, scuffling with them, and even detaining two mainland Chinese men. A total of 979 flights were cancelled on Monday and Tuesday last week.
MTR Corp wins injunction to keep protesters off railway property
Protesters have threatened to continue their activities until Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor agrees to their demands, including the formal withdrawal of the now-abandoned extradition bill and setting up an independent inquiry into the use of force by police.
Extending the injunction order sought by the Airport Authority on Friday, Mr Justice Wilson Chan Ka-shun noted that while the disturbances had subsided, the threat remained, including repeated calls on social media to obstruct passengers.
“The smooth running of the airport is of crucial significance to Hong Kong, in particular the security and safety of its citizens and travellers, its commercial interests, as well as its international reputation,” he said. “Given the ongoing threat, I have no hesitation in continuing the order.”
He ruled that it remain in place until further notice.
Protest inquiry should not probe police officers’ conduct: watchdog chief
The court order bans unlawful and wilful obstruction of the airport and roads within or near Chek Lap Kok, confines demonstrations to “strictly within” two designated areas in the arrival hall, and bars anyone from “inciting, aiding and/or abetting” any obstructive act. The order does not say which roads near the airport cannot be blocked.
A police spokesman warned that anyone in breach of the injunction would be liable to the offence of contempt of court.
But the order did not deter protesters from planning to stall airport operations, through launching a movement called “Stuck with you”, which was expected to start at 7am on Saturday.
Plans floated on LIHKG, a Reddit-like online platform that has become a virtual hub for the protest movement, called for demonstrators to pack airport bus routes and trains on the Tung Chung rail line, and to take the Airport Express. Some had an idea to cycle around Tung Chung, a town next to the airport, or drive about the area to slow traffic.
The ideas were discussed on the forum and messaging application Telegram, while some users said they were just trying to visit an exhibition called “A Journey Through ‘Springtime Along The River’” (Hong Kong Exhibition) at AsiaWorld-Expo, also on Chek Lap Kok. Tickets for the show on Saturday morning were sold out on the Cityline website.
The “stuck” movement was expected to end by 11am, so protesters could join an afternoon march in Kwun Tong, which received a letter of no objection from police.
Lawyer Daniel Wong Kwok-tung said the injunction would bar protesters from causing obstructions near the airport.
He believed those who were planning to obstruct roads and railway links leading to the airport but outside Chek Lap Kok, such as Tsing Ma Bridge, would not be caught by the injunction.
Still, he warned that people risked breaching MTR by-laws if they tried to block train doors.
Chan, the transport secretary, did not provide concrete details on how to define whether travellers going to or from the airport through ordinary transport were breaching the order, saying he did not want to make any unnecessary speculations.
Woman protester accuses Hong Kong police of humiliating strip search
He called on residents not to join the movement and urged drivers of taxis and other vehicles not to facilitate others contravening the order as that could be considered contempt of court.
The Transport Department, the MTR Corporation, and three major bus companies said they would closely monitor the traffic situation on Saturday.
Travel Industry Council executive director Alice Chan Cheung Lok-yee said travel agents had advised tour group members to arrive at the airport at least three hours before departure, an hour earlier than usual.
