HONG KONG 5 August 2019: Anti-government protests continued for the ninth weekend in a row on Sunday as activists called for a mass strike on Monday.
Hong Kong police fired tear gas after protesters besieged Tsim Sha Tsui police station who started fires on the station’s steps. Shopping malls remained deserted and tour operators admitted the protests are now seriously impacting on advance bookings.
Months of demonstrations are taking a growing toll on the city’s economy, with local shoppers and tourists avoiding one of the world’s most famous shopping destinations.
Travel advisories are warning visitors to avoid Hong Kong and strikes by transport workers on scheduled for Monday could delay airline flights.
At the weekend, wire services reported tens of thousands of protesters marched through what was usually busy shopping districts. Tourists and shoppers retreated leaving behind hundreds of police officers in riot gear to faceoff with protesters in streets close to Tsim Sha Tsui police station.
Civil servants in Hong Kong have defied a warning from authorities to remain politically neutral and joined anti-government protests for the first time at the weekend.
Trade unions representing employees of Hong Kong Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Cathay Dragon, British Airways and foreign airlines that use airport services supplied by the Cathay Pacific Group confirmed they would join the strike on Monday. They are protesting against a controversial extradition bill that has been suspended but not taken off the table. Bus and MTR workers are planning to join the Monday strike.
Travellers are warned to expect disruptions to both airline and overland travel in Hong Kong 5 August.
Travel advisories issued by various countries including the UK, warning that protests are taking place on Hong Kong Island, in Kowloon and multiple suburbs in the New Territories.
Reports indicate that protests are likely to continue during weekday evenings possibly escalating as the weekend approaches.
Advisories warn travellers to be on the alert saying “the situation around protests and public gatherings could change quickly, with the potential for significant violence.”
Demonstrations may lead to sections of the city being closed off and public transport being significantly affected. In recent protests, bus routes, MTR stations and the Hong Kong Macao ferry stopped without warning.
