Hong Kong authorities cancelled all departing flight from the city on Tuesday as the international airport here saw chaos played out for a second straight day by hundreds of pro-democracy protesters.
“Terminal operations at Hong Kong International Airport have been seriously disrupted, and all check-in processes have now been suspended,” a statement on the airport website said.
“All passengers are advised to leave the terminal buildings as soon as possible. Affected passengers please contact their respective airlines for flight arrangement,” the statement added.
Incoming flights, on the other hand, would continue as per Hong Kong’s Airport Authority.
While scores of protesters blocked check-in aisles from Tuesday afternoon, at least a thousand collected at the arrivals section of one of the busiest airports in the world.
This is the second day in a row that air travel in Hong Kong has been affected. A mass sit-in by the protesters was witnessed on Monday, while all flights in and out of the region were cancelled after 4 pm.
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Hong Kong has been in the throes of protests since early June. The demonstrations were triggered by a now-suspended bill which would allow suspects to be extradited to China to face trial.
Even though the bill has been suspended by local authorities, the protests have continued and taken on a more pro-democracy outlook. Protesters have also demanded an inquiry into police authority and alleged brutality. Several clashes have taken place between protesters and the police ever since the beginning of the agitation.
China has criticised the protests, with one Chinese official alleging that the demonstrations have begun to show signs of terrorism.
(With inputs from ANI)