Pro-democracy demonstrations in Hong Kong, which are expected to escalate today, are forcing visitors to cancel or postpone trips to the former British colony due to fears of mass disruption.
Demonstrations have already spread beyond the main protest site in the Central business district to Causeway Bay and Mong Kok in Kowloon.
The UK Foreign Office urged travellers to avoid the demonstrations, which are expected to gain momentum today, China’s National Day holiday, which celebrates the 65 year anniversary of the founding of communist China. By midday, protesters were already filling up the main protest sites.
The Foreign Office said this was disrupting traffic and public transport is also affected. A fireworks display that was due to take place to celebrate National Day has been cancelled.
The protesters, the majority of whom are believed to be students, want Beijing to withdraw plans to vet candidates for the next Hong Kong leadership election in 2017.
CY Leung, Hong Kong’s chief executive, has rejected campaigners’ calls for him to resign, insisting instead that the protesters should back electoral reforms set out by Beijing.
The protests, which have brought some parts of the former British colony to a standstill, have already led to one major company banning its staff from visiting.
French cosmetics giant L’Oreal sent staff an email on Monday warning against travel to the city before October 6.
"It concerns all staff that would have to travel to Hong Kong," a spokeswoman told the BBC.
A UK spokeswoman for the tourism board said visitor areas including Admiralty, Central, Causeway Bay and Mongkok were ‘impacted by special incidents’ but she added ‘operation in most districts in Hong Kong remains normal’.
She said visitors should use non-road based public transport services to go to the affected areas. "The operation of AEL as well as MTR [subway]remains normal. As special traffic arrangements in the above districts are anticipated, visitors are advised to stay tuned to the transport department’s website for the latest updates.
The website address is http://www.td.gov.hk/tc/special_news/spnews.htm .
The HKTB also has service counters at the airport, where staff will provide the latest information to visitors.
"It is believed that some visitors will postpone or even cancel their plans to visit Hong Kong for the time being," added the spokeswoman.
