Flights Depart Hong Kong Airport on Schedule After Protest Chaos  

Indian government has issued a travel advisory to its citizens travelling to Hong Kong or transiting through it.

The Quint
World
Updated:
Airport security personnel stand guard as travellers walk past protesters holding a sit-in rally at the departure gate of the Hong Kong International Airport in Hong Kong, Tuesday.
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Airport security personnel stand guard as travellers walk past protesters holding a sit-in rally at the departure gate of the Hong Kong International Airport in Hong Kong, Tuesday.
(Photo: AP/Vincent Thian)

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Flights were departing Hong Kong airport largely on schedule on Wednesday morning, 14 August, a day after pro-democracy protesters caused chaos with a disruptive sit-in that paralysed the busy transport hub.

The protesters apologised to travelers and the general public for the inconvenience during the past five days of airport occupation.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Hundreds of flights were cancelled on Tuesday, 13 August after demonstrators blockaded two terminals, the second consecutive day the airport has been targeted in the latest escalation of a 10-week political crisis that has gripped the international finance hub.

Protesters physically blocked travellers from accessing flights throughout the afternoon, before battling with riot police outside the terminal later that evening and turning on two people they accused of being spies or undercover police.

But by the early hours of Wednesday morning the vast majority of protesters had left the building and flights began taking off on a more regular basis.

The airport's website showed dozens of flights taking off overnight and listed hundreds more scheduled to depart throughout Wednesday, although many were delayed.

Stranded travellers check their flights information at the departure hall of the Hong Kong International Airport in Hong Kong, Tuesday.(Photo: AP/Vincent Thian)

Earlier, on 12 August, the Honk Kong authorities had cancelled flights after protesters stormed in the arrival halls wearing eye patches and bandages, opposing a bill that allows extraditions to mainland China.

It was unclear whether the airport would again be targeted later Wednesday.

Activists turned their attention to the economically vital airport after weeks of huge peaceful rallies – and increasingly violent clashes between hardliners and police – failed to win any concessions from the city's leaders or Beijing.

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WHY IS HONG KONG PROTESTING?

For the over two months, Hong Kong, a Special-Administered Region of China, has been witnessing the biggest pro-democracy protests since Britain handed it over to China in 1997.

A woman holds a flower and posters showing people injured by police as protesters stage a sit-in rally at he Hong Kong International Airport in Hong Kong, Tuesday.(Photo: AP/Vincent Thian)
The protests began as a call to withdraw an extradition bill that would have allowed residents of Hong Kong to be taken to mainland China and face trial there.

Residents feared that this would mark the end of judicial independence and compromise the freedoms and autonomy afforded to the city under the ‘one country, two systems’ framework.

(More about that here.)

The local government consequently caved in to the demand and said that the bill has been suspended but the protests show no signs of waning. The citizens now demand more government accountability, direct elections and an end to police brutality.

WHAT DID THE INDIAN ADVISORY SAY?

A travel advisory issued on Tuesday by the Indian Consulate in Hong Kong said, "Operations at Hong Kong International Airport have been seriously disrupted due to public demonstrations on 12 August."

A notice posted on the Consulate's website added that operations were likely to resume on 13 August, but the flights are likely to be delayed and/or cancelled due to the possibility of more protests.

“Indian passengers are advised to be in touch with airlines to find alternative travel routes to avoid inconvenience, till normalcy is restored in airport operations.”
Travel Advisory, Indian Consulate in Hong Kong

Indian passengers who are already in Hong Kong and waiting to depart were advised to be in touch with their respective airlines for information about when their flights might resume.

Stranded travelers wait for their flights near the check-in counters in the departure hall of the Hong Kong International Airport in Hong Kong, Tuesday.(Photo: AP/Vincent Thian)

The city's leader, Carrie Lam, on Tuesday said that she was worried over the situation in Hong Kong and the violent protests will push it "down a path of no return."

"Violence, no matter if it's using violence or condoning violence, will push Hong Kong down a path of no return, will plunge Hong Kong society into a very worrying and dangerous situation," Lam said.

(With inputs from Associated Press and PTI)

(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)

Published: 13 Aug 2019,03:33 PM IST

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