Hong Kong commuters outraged by traffic disruption during Zhang visit
While many Thursday morning commuters faced disruption to their travel plans, police insisted the measures were necessary to protect the visiting state leader
Members of the public have expressed outrage at the traffic gridlock caused by security measures for visiting state leader Zhang Dejiang on Thursday.
Major traffic arteries were temporarily shut or diverted to give way to the passage of Zhang’s motorcade, a move police insisted was necessary to ensure his safety.
The closure of Connaught Road Central, Gloucester Road and Kwun Tong Bypass paralysed morning rush-hour traffic on both Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, as the official who oversees Hong Kong and Macau affairs was escorted from his accommodation in Wan Chai to Tseung Kwan O for a visit.
Serious congestion spread from Central along the Eastern Corridor and across in Kowloon along the Kwun Tong Bypass for more than two hours from 9.30am. Some commuters decided to get off their buses and walk to their destination as they could not see when the waiting would end.
Police expressed gratitude for the public’s cooperation on its Facebook page after all roads were opened at noon after Zhang had left the city, but the post quickly attracted anger.
“Could the man just leave us alone? I have never seen such gridlock in my life if not for him,” one angry road user said. “The security arrangement is just too much and went over the top. We did not even see any potential attacks,” said another.
