Travel warning for Hong Kong as flights cancelled for second day

Flight departures from Hong Kong’s international airport have been cancelled for a second day due to protestors taking over the terminal.

Services had resumed earlier today but departures were suspended from 5.45pm local time after protestors again took over the terminal.

The demonstrations follow public protests earlier this week, which had led authorities to warn that there wouldl be some flight disruption today.

Some of today’s flights had already delayed or cancelled, and all passengers were being advised to check their flight status before heading to the airport.

Thousands of protesters flooded the airport on Monday and Hong Kong International Airport said the demonstration had ‘seriously disrupted’ operations. Flights resumed today but check-in services were suspended after thousands of protestors returned to the airport.

The disruption follows protests at the airport all weekend which had gone off relatively peacefully.

Passengers had been advised by national airline Cathay Pacific to postpone non-essential travel today. The UK Foreign Office said those who still intend to fly should check their flight status on the Hong Kong airport website.

In an update to its travel advice for Hong Kong, the Foreign office said: "You should be prepared that the situation around protests and public gatherings could change quickly, with the potential for significant violence.

"If you are in and around areas where demonstrations are taking place, you should remain vigilant, follow the advice of local authorities and move away quickly to a safe place if there are signs of disorder.

"Some protests may not have received authorisation from the police. Unauthorised protests have become more frequent and widespread, affecting many areas across Hong Kong, including some areas popular with tourists on Hong Kong Island and in Kowloon.

"Compared to authorised protests, unauthorised protests are met by a more rapid and more severe police response. Recent unauthorised protests have attracted heavy use of tear gas, including in built up and residential areas. You should therefore exercise vigilance in the vicinity of unauthorised protests.

"Activities related to protests have spilled over into large public spaces, including shopping centres, housing estates and metro ("MTR") stations, on the margins of recent protest routes. Protests can deviate from planned routes and there is the possibility of injuries among those accidentally caught up in events.

"Demonstrations may lead to sections of the city being closed off and strikes by public transport workers will significantly disrupt services. In recent protests, bus routes, MTR stations, the Airport Express and the Hong Kong Macao Ferry Terminal have temporarily suspended operations without warning."