Hong Kong protests: hundreds of demonstrators occupy airport for second day
- Only a handful of protesters remained in the arrivals hall overnight but some 1,000 others have now joined them
- Protesters are making posters, greeting travellers, and chanting ‘add oil, Hong Kong’
Hundreds of black-clad demonstrators descended on Hong Kong International Airport to support the second day of an illegal anti-government sit-in on Saturday.
By 3.30pm, an estimated 1,000 protesters had joined a handful of others who spent the night in the airport’s arrivals hall.
Seated in organised blocks to allow a path for airport staff, they busied themselves by making posters or greeting arriving travellers, and sporadically broke out into chants of “add oil, Hong Kong!” and “fight for freedom, stay with Hong Kong”.
The crowd cheered when a banner carrying the message “Liberate Hong Kong, revolution now” was unfurled on a walkway on the second floor. It was removed 15 minutes later by a group of men, and protesters shouted “shame on you” at them.
Many of those present in the morning had stayed overnight to guard supplies left over from the day before, when hundreds had gathered to “greet” travellers with anti-government brochures in a bid to win international support.
This was the fourth day in less than three weeks the airport had been affected by the anti-government movement, and airport authorities had heightened security ahead of this protest, which began on Friday and will finish on Sunday.
“I came over at 8pm yesterday [Friday] after I finished my research,” said Hing Siu-fai, a master’s student at Chinese University. “Everyone is very tired.”
Hing said it was unlikely clashes that might disrupt travellers’ plans would break out at the airport.
Earlier in the morning, energy levels were low among the fewer than 100 protesters present. Many were sleeping on the floor in the arrivals hall.
Permits for the rallies were rejected by the police, and it remained unclear if they would go ahead.
Police presence was light, even as airport security was tightened at check-in aisles. Protesters who stayed overnight said they did not meet with resistance from airport staff, because some of them had spoken to the airport authorities before the protest.
Posters and brochures were neatly laid on the ground, and included a message printed on bold font which read “Welcome to the city of expired tear gas”. Curious onlookers and travellers posed for photos in front of the messages.
Dillip Jena, 45, a director at a furniture company on a business trip, said he was worried about his safety when he heard about the protests happening in Hong Kong. “But I still have to come for work,” he said.
Some flights were cancelled on Saturday morning, although it remained unclear if that was because of the protests.
“I don’t blame the protesters, there’s nothing anyone can do about it,” said Chen Hanzhe, 16, whose Cathay Pacific flight back to Nanzhou, in mainland China, had been cancelled.
“My friends and family back home are very worried about us [because of the protest],” said his mother, Shen Hong, 48.
The pair had been in Hong Kong on holiday and said they stayed in their hotel at night because they were worried about their safety.
“I’ve never heard of something like that,” said Karl Stefan, an American Airlines pilot, referring to China’s decision.
“But that sounds like something China would do. They’re not that keen on free speech. I’d be worried if I were to do business in China, if they arbitrarily make statements like that.”
Stefan, who has been flying for 34 years, also took some brochures from protesters before his flight to Texas.
Some shops in the airport said the demonstrations had inconvenienced their work, but those the Post spoke to said their businesses had not been adversely affected.
“We normally sell 600 cups, but we sold 1,000 yesterday when there was a huge demonstration,” said Ambrose Lau, 20, an employee at Tenren’s Tea.
They’re looking down on the Chinese. When you’re in China, you don’t fly the American flag
The drink stall made HK$36,934 on Friday, compared to average sales of around HK$22,000 for the branch, he added.
Employees at Ramen Tonkotsu 8 said the number of customers yesterday did not fall, but the demonstrations had made their work more difficult.
“They’re very noisy and annoying. Our customers got angry yesterday because it was so loud we couldn’t catch their orders,” said one employee.
Even though demonstrations at the airport have been peaceful, the employees said they could not agree with their methods.
“They’re looking down on the Chinese,” one said. “When you’re in China, you don’t fly the American flag.”
Rubbish collection points have been set up by protesters and cleaning staff said the demonstrations had not made their jobs more difficult.
“The protests have been peaceful so far. Maybe it might affect the afternoon shift when more demonstrators show up, but I don’t think it will cause much trouble,” said Chen Hin-wang, an airport worker.
Another protester, Thomas Tam, said he was ready to help restore calm if arguments broke out.
“There were some minor quarrels yesterday, but nothing major,” said the 17-year-old, who arrived at 5am to help tidy up the protest areas.
