Anti-government protesters are planning to gridlock transport links serving Hong Kong International Airport on Sunday afternoon, a day after police used water cannons and tear gas against demonstrators who had hurled petrol bombs and bricks at them.
Protesters are calling on the public to overwhelm roads and rail links to the airport on Sunday and Monday to cause flights to be cancelled, in a hoped-for repeat of their actions a fortnight ago.
Two other groups of protesters also plan to protest in the northern town of Tin Shui Wai, and outside the British consulate in Admiralty. The protest in Admiralty is expected to call on London to give British National (Overseas) passport holders the right to live in the UK.
Chan is attending today’s airport strike because she is infuriated Hongkongers no longer have the freedom to speak up for what they believe in. “You can see the government is doing everything to stop our actions and to force us to keep silent,” the 26-year-old says. Although Chan feels the city is no longer after safe seeing how police attacked protesters on a train on Saturday, she still hopes today’s protest will be peaceful.
Ko has joined several protests in the past two months and is fully prepared for today’s rally in support of those who were beaten on Saturday. “We have to show solidarity and force the government to give us a response to the five basic demands," the 21-year-old says. "We have to come out, regardless of what happens. Even though the situation seems hopeless, we are not alone. The whole world is watching us.”
About 300 protesters, some of them in black and masked, have gathered outside the the entrances of both terminals, chanting slogans such as "Five demands, no less!" and 'Hongkongers, add oil!" The crowd seems to be growing in size.
Lau, 29, is a worker in the medical sector. He says he is shocked by police action and how peaceful citizens have been treated by the force. "I want to speak for human rights and democracy. There is no reason for police to hurt protesters. They don’t even differentiate between protesters and bystanders." When asked if he fears for his safety, Lau says he feels that police will not do anything too abusive at the airport, and that their rally today should be fairly safe. "That’s why I don’t have any mask or helmet today to protect myself. We just want to gather here today and voice our opinions."
A small number of people appear to have gained entry into the airport without boarding passes. They are questioned and searched by police. Bystanders and other passengers heckle officers, saying that as Hong Kong citizens they should "have right to enter the airport freely".
Police have arrived at the airport bus terminus and are standing between protesters and airport staff to ensure demonstrators do not enter the complex.
Airport security workers have set up a barrier blocking access to the airport. They are refusing entry to media as well. When the gates are slammed shut, some protesters try to barge through, while at least one bottle is hurled at an official reading out a court injunction. The crowd then shine laser beams on the man's face.
Protesters are building a barrier with luggage trolleys. Buses are still arriving at the terminus but there appears to be no way through at the moment.
Over 500 people have gathered outside the British consulate in Admiralty, holding British and Hong Kong colonial flags in support of a petition for Britain to give equal rights to British Nationals (Overseas). They are chanting “don’t leave us behind!” and “British in Hong Kong!" One man, surnamed Lo, in his early twenties, says British National (Overseas) passport holders like himself deserve the same rights as British citizens. “We were born in a British colony, and should be treated as such,” he says.
Protesters are building barricades farther from the airport and bus terminus, grabbing traffic barriers and ferrying them down to the exit of the coach station and staff car park, where Cheong Tat Road branches off for the airport.
At the rally outside the British consulate, Jacky Lim Hung-tat, a writer and commentator who helped organisers plan the event, says the turnout has far exceeded his expectations. “I only expected to see a little over 100, but the turnout today is close to 1,000,” he says. “I’ve written about BNOs and the Sino-British Joint Declaration for years now, but until recently these subjects seldom garnered this much attention.”
At the British consulate rally, a father, surnamed Lee, attending with his wife and one-year-old son says: “I’m here because I want to have equal status for BNOs. BNO status was given to Hong Kong citizens who lived in Hong Kong before 1997 but it doesn’t have the same recognition as the full British passport does. I hope the UK can protect Hong Kong BNO holders as China is not abiding by the Sino-British Joint Declaration and is destroying "one country, two systems". I will keep on fighting in a peaceful and non-violent way and let people over the world hear our demands.”
A spokeswoman for the organisers of the British consulate rally reads a statement. “I declare the Sino-British Joint Declaration void. We urge the British government to react accordingly and take immediate action to protect British Nationals in Hong Kong by any means necessary. On behalf of Britons here, we urge the government to grant full British citizenship to British nationals,” she says.
A young man who works in a shop at the airport is trying to find a way in and showing his staff pass to police, but is instead chased away by angry officers. He says he does not know where else to go now. "This is crazy," he adds.
Travellers and airline crew as well as protesters have been forced to get off their buses at the bridge connecting Tung Chung and Chek Lap Kok, the island on which the airport is located.
Some protesters have blocked emergency exits at the airport, throwing stones on the ground in an apparent bid to slow down the approach of police vehicles. They are now hundreds of metres away from riot police stationed at the bus terminal.
Protesters at the airport are now making their way to Tung Chung, the closest residential neighbourhood after a tense stand-off with police. Meanwhile, MTR trains on the Tung Chung line have been adjusted to run at 15-minute intervals.
Residents have placed flowers at exit B1 of the closed Prince Edward MTR station after last night's clashes where riot police charged at protesters who were among commuters in a train.
Yuen, a preacher, has been sitting at the exit for nearly three hours, holding a handmade sign questioning people's conscience and pointing out that there were children on the train in the incident. "I want to remind police to remember what oath they took when they joined the force," Yuen says. Passers-by have left food and drinks for Yuen, and cheered him on. Two women close by were performing Sing Hallelujah to the Lord. Exit B1 is next to the Mong Kok Police Station, another scene of tense stand-offs last night. Prince Edward MTR station is closed for repairs today after the chaos of last night.
A long queue of passengers is trying to access the terminal building through a single entry point. Four staff are checking boarding cards. Security staff said that, as per the instructions of Hong Kong police, media are not allowed access at this point. They were unable to say how long this would last.
The protest is beginning to impact some Cathay Pacific flights. Of the 24 long-haul departures between 11pm tonight, and 2am on September 2, some 11 flights to Europe, Australia and Africa have been proactively delayed by up to two hours, according to the airline’s latest flight schedule online.
There are many protesters dressed in black at Tung Chung MTR station, where they have walked from the airport. Some protesters have also forced two ticket barriers open and people are walking into paid areas without paying.
David from the United States has been in Hong Kong on a business trip and is flying to Chongqing next. He walked the last 1km to the airport along the road, but did not seem annoyed at protesters. "If you want something to change you have to fight for it, but you also have to make sacrifices," he says.
The MTR Corp announces that Airport Express services in both directions between Hong Kong and Airport stations have been suspended due to someone trespassing on the track near the airport. Two MTR staff in pink vest are removing bricks, metal rods and other objects thrown by protesters onto the tracks while protesters continue to throw more objects farther on.
There was brawl on Airport Road, with a middle-aged man in green T-shirt knocked to the ground and kicked by masked protesters. It was said the man attacked protesters with a brick.
Max, a crew member on a Lufthansa flight that has just landed from Frankfurt says he and the rest of the crew have been trying to leave for about 45 minutes. They want to be able to get some sleep. He says the first they knew about the situation on the ground was during their approach to Hong Kong.
At the Airport Express Hong Kong station, Danny Tsai, 32, who works in the shoe industry, is trying to travel back to Taipei. At 16:40, he was struggling to get a sense of his travel options for his 8pm flight home. “It’s quite inconvenient but the news was already out about this; it's quite unexpected though that the fast train would be stopped too. It’s better to plan earlier for these days,” he said. He said staff were quite polite and they shared general information on the situation, adding that they hoped the line would reopen later but they told Tsai to keep an eye on the news. “I’m a bit anxious but things happen and you have to face it and see what comes,” he added.
Doesn't seem like they'll get their extradition bill demands without shit going hot. China no doubt doesn't mind waiting it out.
The facade of HK's autonomous rule as been laid bare for all to see, though.
Joshua Bennett
we should raid weibo with hong kong protest pictures, 1989 tiananmen square, etc. but all with random noise and distortion added so it doesn't get autodeleted
Protesters have spray-painted "Communist Rail" on the floor of Tung Chung MTR station, a wordplay on the Cantonese name for the MTR. Protesters have used the epithet in recent weeks, angered by the rail operator's co-operation with authorities by closing stations ahead of protests.
Roberta and Martin, from Nottingham, have just arrived for their first visit to Hong Kong and are not sure how they will get to their hotel. They say they "chose a sad time to come here". Martin has been following the protests closely from Britain says that he feels Hong Kong is still a safe place, and it is a shame "the UK doesn't have any clout on the international stage any more", so they can't help resolve the situation.
In Tung Chung, protesters have pulled down a Chinese flag from a government building and set it on fire. Protesters started to cheer and loudly chant after they pulled down the national flag from Tung Chung Swimming Pool.
Vincent, 70, from Malta has come on a tour of Hong Kong, Singapore and Vietnam with 30 other Maltese nationals. "Should we be worried about Chinese troops coming over the border?" he asked. Vincent said he had been wary before coming but because the tour operator was assured it was OK by the airlines, they decided to go ahead.
Gary Ferguson, from Glasgow, is stuck at Hong Kong International Airport and says he is "obviously annoyed, but can understand why people are protesting". He has just arrived in the city with three others as they being a tour of the region.
This is an emergency announcement. Please leave the station immediately -loudspeaker
Dylan Rivera
There are many people still waiting for the Airport Express in the terminal. Very few seem to be aware of the situation and many are asking when the service will be up and running. The queue snakes round a large section of the arrival hall. They are being advised that the trains are not running but are unaware of other transport links.
The police said that a dispersal action will be taken in a short period of time and warned the demonstrators to immediately stop the illegal act and leave. -RTHK
Wyatt Smith
picture taken from the future of hong kong this month
They probably bought the tickets months ago It's how you get the cheapest deals
Samuel Sanchez
MTR Corporation announces that Tung Chung line trains will not stop at Tung Chung after protesters smash up the station, and the rail operator advises passengers not to go there. Protesters are spraying water and detergent on the floor, while others are stopping shutter doors from closing as protesters flee. Hundreds of those unable to leave on the train continue to smash up the station, they break into the staff area of the station, damaging video screens and notice boards.
