Flights resume at Hong Kong airport

Hong Kong’s airport resumed operations Wednesday just hours after thousands of anti-government protesters forcibly blocked access to the main terminal, temporarily paralyzing the transport hub for the second consecutive night, reports CNN. (https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/14/asia/hong-kong-airport-protests-intl-hnk/index.html)

Five people were arrested and six were hospitalized, authorities said, following chaotic and often ugly scenes at the airport Tuesday night, the latest escalation in what has become an increasingly volatile political crisis.

Hundreds of flights were cancelled on Tuesday after demonstrators blockaded two terminals in the
latest escalation of a 10-week political crisis that has gripped the city.(https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/14/hong-kong-flights-resume-at-airport-after-clashes-between-protesters-and-police)

The airport’s website showed dozens of flights taking off overnight and listed hundreds more which were scheduled to depart throughout the day, although many were cancelled or delayed. Hong Kong carrier Cathay Pacific said it has cancelled 272 flights in the last two days.

As the airport struggled to returned to normal Wednesday, protesters gathered at the airport, bowing their heads to passengers and holding signs apologizing for their behaviour. “Sorry for the inconvenience. We are fighting for the future of our home,” one banner.

The Hang Seng stock index fell to a seven-month low on Tuesday and embattled Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said the city had been pushed into a state of “panic and chaos.”

Yvonne Zacharias