MTR Corporation wins injunction to keep Hong Kong protesters off railway property after protests at stations this week
- Injunction would be similar to one obtained by Airport Authority last week; rail operator admits that protests are getting out of hand
- Chinese state media have launched scathing attack on MTR Corp, accusing it of facilitating escape of protesters by laying on free trains to clear stations
Hong Kong’s embattled railway operator secured an injunction from the High Court on Friday night to prevent anti-government protesters from besieging and vandalising its subway stations.
Mr Justice Anderson Chow Ka-ming granted an interim injunction order in favour of the MTR Corporation after hearing submissions from its lawyers.
In a statement, the MTR Corp said the injunction would restrain people from “unlawfully and wilfully obstructing or interfering with the proper use of the stations and trains of the railway network” as well as the high-speed rail terminus.
The interim injunction, effective until 30 August, also forbids people from “damaging any property or trains and using any threatening, abusive, obscene or offensive language or wilfully interfering with the comfort or convenience of any MTR staff at any station”.
The MTR made the move as Chinese state media issued a warning to the rail operator against any attempt to facilitate what they called “rioters” in destabilising actions, otherwise the company would run the risk of “derailing and slipping into the abyss”.
There was chaos again at Kwai Fong station, after the MTR decided to suspend services early at 9pm to head off a repeat of the previous night’s protest.
