Hong Kong railway operator obtains interim injunction amid disruptive acts
A set of barricades made by protesters are seen after a protest at Yuen Long MTR station in Hong Kong on August 21, 2019.
The MTR Corporation, Hong Kong's railway operator, has obtained an interim injunction from the court on Friday evening as violent acts of some radicals disrupted order in several stations recently.
Effective until August 30, the interim injunction will restrain persons from unlawfully and willfully obstructing or interfering with the proper use of the stations, trains of the railway network, and the High Speed Rail West Kowloon Station, according to an MTR statement.
It will also restrain persons from damaging any property or trains, using any threatening, abusive, obscene or offensive language or willfully interfering with the comfort or convenience of any MTR staff at any station.
MTR said the move was due to recent repeated instances where stations facilities were vandalized, staff were harassed and the safety of staff and passengers was threatened.
Responding to upcoming protest activities, MTR said it will stop train service to and from the concerned stations or even close stations with little or no prior notice if fights, vandalism or other acts of violence occur, or under high risks or emergency situations.
The police may need to enter stations to take suitable law enforcement action when necessary, MTR said.
