Here's What Remains of Hong Kong's Airport Sit-In

Airport Authority granted temporary injunction
By Arden Dier,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 14, 2019 11:20 AM CDT
Here's What Remains of Hong Kong's Airport Sit-In
Travelers check in at the departure gates at the airport in Hong Kong on Wednesday.   (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

Pro-democracy protesters were confined to the sidelines Wednesday as flights resumed at Hong Kong's busy international airport. "Check-in counters were open and flights appeared to be operating normally," though some three dozen protesters remained camped in the airport's arrivals area, per the AP. Per the BBC, the Airport Authority said it had secured a temporary injunction restricting protesters "from attending or participating in any demonstration or protest ... other than in the area designated by the Airport Authority." Protesters blocking passengers' access to immigration had shuttered the airport for a second day in a row when violence erupted Tuesday evening. Assistant Commissioner of Police Operations Mak Chin-ho said five people ages 17 to 28 were arrested for illegal assembly.

Two of those arrested were also charged with assaulting a police officer and possessing offensive weapons. Police added that more arrests were expected, particularly in relation to video footage that showed a police officer pulling a gun while protesters beat him with his own baton, apparently after seeing the officer manhandle a woman. "The police pledge to all citizens of Hong Kong that we will take steps to bring all culprits to justice," Mak said, noting "the extremely radical and violent acts have certainly crossed the line." In an emailed statement, some protesters apologized to the public for inconveniences, including about 300 canceled flights over two days. "We ask for your understanding and forgiveness as young people in Hong Kong continue to fight for freedom and democracy," they said. (More Hong Kong stories.)

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