HONG KONG. Airport staff and flight attendants have joined demonstrators in staging a sit-in protest at Hong Kong International Airport.
Around 1,000 people have taken part in the planned 11-hour protest in the Terminal 1 arrival hall, according to various media reports. The protestors are calling for democracy with chants of ‘free Hong Kong’ heard, as outrage over a controversial new extradition law continues.
They are also said to be responding to last week’s violent attacks on demonstrators and residents in Yuen Long by suspected gang members, which were widely viewed online. Police were criticised for their slow response to the attacks while opposition lawmakers alleged that authorities had colluded with organised crime groups.
Hong Kong’s government has apologised for the police handling of the attack.
The airport issued a passenger notice ahead of the protest which said that it would not disrupt operations. The notice read: “It is expected that a public assembly will take place at the airport on 26 July (Friday). The airport will operate normally. Passengers should allow sufficient time for travelling to the airport.”
The protest has involved signs, audio messages and chants and its staging at the airport is strategic so as to target foreign travellers and generate maximum international attention.
As reported, the situation in Hong Kong has impacted luxury brands and travel retailers with fears about longer-term repercussions.
In the wake of the earlier protests, the Hong Kong Retail Management Association (HKRMA) issued a statement saying that sales dropped significantly year-on-year during June and the first week of July. The association added that it was expecting a double-digit year-on-year drop in sales in July, August and 2019 as a whole.
The HKRMA said it was concerned that the incidents will seriously impact Hong Kong’s international image as a safe and world-class tourist and shopping destination.
“The protests have affected the daily life of Hong Kong people and our business environment. HKRMA urges the government to handle the situation swiftly and to return calmness to the society as soon as possible.”
