CHINA (HONG KONG). Hong Kong International Airport was forced to cancel all departures for the remainder of today (12 August) as protesters brought the airport to a standstill.
All departing flights that were scheduled to leave after 18.00 HKT have been cancelled, affecting around 160 flights, while the majority of arrivals have also been delayed or cancelled.
I’m at the airport in Hong Kong where all outbound flights have been canceled. pic.twitter.com/A6FEZPlFla
— Rosalind Adams (@RosalindZAdams) August 12, 2019
In a statement issued on its website at 16.50 HKT, Hong Kong International Airport said: “Airport operations at Hong Kong International Airport have been seriously disrupted, all flights have been cancelled. All passengers are advised to leave the terminal buildings as soon as possible. Affected passengers please contact their respective airlines for flight arrangement.”
“Pro-democracy demonstrators have occupied every inch of this terminal” says the BBC’s China correspondent @StephenMcDonell, as Hong Kong airport cancels flights because of anti-government protests https://t.co/CsWaHwvus0 pic.twitter.com/kivWuoJ0h5
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) August 12, 2019
The BBC’s China Correspondent Stephen McDonell has reported that thousands of protesters are “occupying every inch” of the airport’s terminals. The unrest stems from protests that began more than two months ago relating to concerns over a proposed extradition bill, which would have allowed suspected criminals to be sent to mainland China for trial; the bill has since been suspended, but not totally abandoned.
As reported, the protests have affected the usually vibrant luxury downtown shopping scene in the special administrative region, with the Hong Kong Retail Management Association (HKRMA) warning of a major fall in sales and a wave of strikes bringing the city to a standstill only one week ago.
The protests had already stretched to the airport, where The Shilla Duty Free, CDF-Lagardère and Gebr Heinemann respectively operate the beauty, liquor & tobacco and confectionery concessions. On 26 July, an estimated 1,000 people took part in an 11-hour sit-in protest. That, however, pales in comparison to the activity today, which has brought one of Asia’s major travel retail hubs and most lucrative travel retail locations to a standstill.
