Authorities at Hong Kong airport on Tuesday cancelled all departing flights after pro-democracy protesters blocked the facility for a second day.
“Airport operations at Hong Kong International Airport have been seriously disrupted, all departure flights have been cancelled,” a statement on the airport website said.
“All passengers are advised to leave the terminal buildings as soon as possible.”
The statement did not immediately make clear if flights were still arriving.
An earlier statement announcing that check-ins had been suspended said that flights were still arriving.
The decision came after thousands of pro-democracy protesters flooded into the airport for the second consecutive day and blocked passengers from reaching entrances to the departure area in both terminals.
It came a day after authorities announced the unprecedented complete cancellation of all arriving and departing flights over a massive rally.
Pro-democracy protesters blocked passengers at departure halls of Hong Kong airport Tuesday, a day after a sit-in forced authorities to cancel all flights to and from the major international hub.
In both terminals, protesters blocked the entrances to the departure area, though several dozen passengers were able to push through.
“I support your cause… but I need to see my family,” a man shouted as protesters dressed in black surrounded him, preventing him from reaching the gates.
Some passengers said they had been told to check their bags in at Terminal 1 and then move to Terminal 2 to take-off, but when they arrived they found more protesters also blocking the way.
The demonstrators moved luggage trolleys to prevent passengers using an elevator or escalator leading down to the departure gates on the bottom floor of Terminal 2.
Then they formed a human chain, linking arm-in-arm to stop passengers from getting to the departures area.
A crowd of angry passengers, among them families with children, tried to push through without success.
“Come on you’re being really selfish now,” shouted one man.
Source: (AFP)
