US issues Hong Kong travel warning as airport protest planned
- On Thursday, the US State Department warned citizens to ‘exercise increased caution’, upgrading its previous advice
- It comes after countries including Australia, Britain, Ireland, Singapore and Japan issued heightened travel warnings
Australia issues Hong Kong travel alert warning citizens of violence
The demonstrations have evolved into a wider movement for democratic reform that has seriously disrupted the city with sometimes violent protests.
On Thursday, the US State Department warned citizens to “exercise increased caution”, upgrading its previous advice to “exercise normal precautions”.
The warning notes that demonstrations in the city have been mostly peaceful “but some have turned confrontational or resulted in violent clashes”.
“These demonstrations, which can take place with little or no notice, are likely to continue,” the advice adds.
Images of clashes between masked protesters and police firing tear gas in Hong Kong’s streets have made global headlines, and on Tuesday China gave its sternest warning yet to the pro-democracy demonstrators.
Defend homes against radical protesters, Beijing urges Hongkongers amid unrest
But the protests are expected to continue, with demonstrators planning three days of rallies at the city’s airport from Friday afternoon.
“Airport Authority Hong Kong is aware that there have been calls posted online for a public assembly at the airport on August 9-11. The airport will operate normally,” it said.
It urged passengers to “allow sufficient time for travelling to the airport” and to check flight status information before coming to the airport.
“The protests in Hong Kong reduced inbound passenger traffic in July and are adversely impacting forward bookings,” he said.