Hong Kong commuters outraged by traffic disruption during Zhang visit
While many Thursday morning commuters faced disruption to their travel plans, police insisted the measures were necessary to protect the visiting state leader
Members of the public have expressed outrage at the traffic gridlock caused by security measures for visiting state leader Zhang Dejiang on Thursday.
Major traffic arteries were temporarily shut or diverted to give way to the passage of Zhang’s motorcade, a move police insisted was necessary to ensure his safety.
The closure of Connaught Road Central, Gloucester Road and Kwun Tong Bypass paralysed morning rush-hour traffic on both Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, as the official who oversees Hong Kong and Macau affairs was escorted from his accommodation in Wan Chai to Tseung Kwan O for a visit.
Serious congestion spread from Central along the Eastern Corridor and across in Kowloon along the Kwun Tong Bypass for more than two hours from 9.30am. Some commuters decided to get off their buses and walk to their destination as they could not see when the waiting would end.
Police expressed gratitude for the public’s cooperation on its Facebook page after all roads were opened at noon after Zhang had left the city, but the post quickly attracted anger.
“Could the man just leave us alone? I have never seen such gridlock in my life if not for him,” one angry road user said. “The security arrangement is just too much and went over the top. We did not even see any potential attacks,” said another.
A veteran police officer defended the gridlock and disruption, telling the Post the measures were crucial.
“We are on a counterterrorism operation. Nothing is more important than the safety of the state leader and the public,” the source said.
“People found our arrangement excessive only because nothing happened. Our strong security blanket killed all chances of threats.”
The source added that any other country in the world would do the same to protect their VIPs.
A counterterrorism expert from the mainland said the security measures were justified, as terrorist and violent activities were on the rise.
“It is conducive to Hong Kong’s security, prosperity, and stability with higher security measures in place,” said Li Wei, director of the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations’ Centre of Counter-Terrorism Study.
Apart from road closures, the force also temporary shut down flyovers and footbridges during the passage of the motorcade. The three-day operation was expected to cause serious traffic congestion.
The police had warned earlier that inconvenience to the public and road users was unavoidable, as it pledged to take decisive action to prevent any potential threats to Zhang after rasing his security risk to maximum. “We have to make sure nothing will jeopardise the safety of Zhang and other participants at the summit,” the source said.
Additional reporting by Ng Kang-chung