Hong Kong train services return to normal as anti-government protesters end blockades at MTR stations

Train services in Hong Kong have returned to normal after protesters ended a blockade of MTR operations and did not follow up on threats to disrupt other parts of the transport network.

Demonstrators, angry at Beijing’s response to the extradition bill crisis, prevented trains from leaving Tiu Keng Leng and North Point stations during the morning rush hour on Tuesday, leading to commuter chaos and mixed reactions from passengers.

Some services were also suspended at Causeway Bay, the city’s shopping heartland.

Appealing to protesters, Alan Cheng Kwan-hing, MTR’s general manager for special duties, said: “We understand some people want to express their views but we regret that they did so by disrupting the train service.

“We ask them not to obstruct train services and affect other passengers using the MTR.”

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Cheng said there were 123 incidents of passengers pressing emergency buttons on platforms and in carriages on the Kwun Tong, Tseung Kwan O, Island and Tsuen Wan lines, to obstruct trains.

Referring to the possibility of MTR staff downing tools on Tuesday, Cheng said there were so far no cases of train drivers going on strike.

“Only one or two drivers called in sick today,” he said.

During the height of the disruption, which started just before 8am, traffic was also jammed on roads across Hong Kong Island. Long queues of buses were moving slowly along the Island Eastern Corridor and along Connaught Road from Central to Causeway Bay.

Some protesters told the Post they were heading to Hong Kong airport in the early afternoon to join a sit-in proposed for the arrival hall, while others said they would hand out flyers in Mong Kok at 5.30pm.

In the first bout of direct action on Tuesday, demonstrators prevented a Whampoa-bound train from departing Tiu Keng Leng station in Kowloon at 7.50am by standing in groups between doors. The train finally left at 9am.

Tiu Keng Leng station sits on the Kwun Tong and Tseung Kwan O lines, connecting the densely populated east of Kowloon with the city’s bustling business and shopping hubs.

At Admiralty, the city’s administrative hub on Hong Kong Island, about 25 protesters wearing masks stopped train doors closing from around 9.30am.

A scuffle broke out briefly between a passenger and protester on the train. The passenger was led off the train by police. An elderly woman was also seen being escorted from the train, with protesters shouting apologies.

A 30-year-old clerk, surnamed Chan, said he had been on the platform since 8.15am and was supposed to be at work by 9am.

“I support the objectives of the protesters, but it’s not good they are using this method to voice their demands as it inconveniences everyone,” he said. “I really hope this will blow over soon.”

As more passengers gathered and remained stuck on platforms at Tiu Keng Leng, the situation got more tense.

Arguments and scuffles broke out, with both sides yelling expletives at each other.

On Monday night, thousands of people who had joined groups on the encrypted social networking forums on Telegram and LIHKG, discussed the plan.

“Some say we need to have political wisdom and not cause trouble at MTR stations, because citizens will not be able to go to school and work,” a message by an administrator of a Telegram group read.

“But people are going to criticise you for everything you do – storming the Legislative Council, a sit-in or a protest, there is no need to ask for sympathy or understanding.”

A similar campaign took place in Admiralty during morning rush hour last Wednesday. A Chai Wan-bound train left Admiralty station 18 minutes late.

“We will closely monitor the situation of all rail links and deploy manpower when needed to minimise disruption to services,” an MTR Corporation spokesman said.

“We urge passengers to take note of latest news and plan their itinerary accordingly. We hope passengers will be understanding and we will do our best to minimise service disruption.”

Beijing tells Hong Kong return to normality ‘the most pressing priority’

Hong Kong has been rattled by protests and several other non-cooperative movements since early June. They were sparked by the now-shelved extradition bill, which would have allowed the transfer of criminal suspects to jurisdictions the city does not have such an agreement with, including mainland China.

Protesters have demanded the Hong Kong government completely withdraw the bill and release those arrested in rallies.

Transport minister Frank Chan Fan urged protesters not to disturb railway operations, noting the MTR served a daily patronage of more than 5 million people.

He said protesters’ actions had created chaos and could cause safety concerns.

“I urge friends who want to express their opinions to try and do it through other ways and handle it in a peaceful and rational manner,” Chan said.

Police would be restrained in handling the matter as long as opinions were expressed peacefully, he added.

Chan said the government had listened carefully to residents and Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor had clearly responded to the protesters’ major demands.

Demonstrators were also planning a sit-in at the airport at 1pm on Tuesday. Posters being circulated on social media outlined a plan to put up placards to show international travellers their demands, but they would not damage any facilities.

A spokesman for the Airport Authority said: “We are closely monitoring the situation. There are clear provisions regarding public order and conduct at the airport.”