Hong Kong protesters disrupt flights, metro
Passengers stranded at Hong Kong International Airport on Monday.
More than 200 flights were canceled, several MTR lines suspended, and bus stops overcrowded in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on Monday as radical protesters created chaos in an attempt to paralyze the city’s traffic.
By 3pm on Monday, the status of at least 247 flights read “canceled,” including 111 arrivals and 136 departures, according to the flight schedule on the Hong Kong airport’s official website.
The airport authority earlier issued a notice around midnight, saying “potential circumstances” might affect airport operations.
It advised passengers to check with their airlines for the latest flight information, and to proceed to the airport only when their seats and flight times had been confirmed.
Multiple MTR lines and stations, including the Island Line from Wan Chai to Chai Wan station, Tung Chung Line from Tsing Yi to Kowloon station, West Rail Line from Hung Hom to Austin station and Tsuen Wan Line from Tsim Sha Tsui to Tsuen Wan station, were all suspended during the rush hour on Monday morning, according to Haiwainet, a website of People's Daily.
Commuters crowd aboard buses.
Hong Kong citizens had to make their way to work on crowded buses.
MTR lines gradually resumed service in the afternoon, according to Hong Kong Transport Department.
The department also said some traffic lights in Hong Kong, Kowloon, and the New Territories were not functioning normally.
At about 7:30am, some protesters even deliberately blocked trains from leaving stations by pulling emergency brakes.
Some protesters also set up barriers at the Kowloon entrance of the Cross-Harbour Tunnel, blocking traffic.
Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam on Monday condemned the latest string of violent acts that "disrespected national dignity" and said such acts will push Hong Kong into a "very dangerous" situation.
