NEWS FROM HONG KONG
HONG KONG - Hong Kong's public broadcasting service, RTHK, today, Monday (5/8/2019) afternoon reported that, starting at 12:45, the train service (MTR) has been operating normally, after having been for hours since the morning experienced disruption as a result of today's demonstration. Earlier, protesters carried out various blockades that brought MTR services to a standstill, creating an unprecedented transportation chaos in Hong Kong.
The MTR operator said objects such as bicycles and trolleys had been thrown on the railroad tracks. "In one case, an East Rail train carrying no passengers crashed into a trolley on the track, and protesters blocking a train door on the Tsuen Wan line abandoned the train for more than 2 hours between two stations," RTHK reported.
Previously, the Hong Kong Free Press (HKFP) reported that Hong Kong was plunged into transportation chaos on Monday morning when strikes gripped the city, bringing MTR services to a halt and hundreds of flights canceled. It was noted that more than 230 flights were canceled and 7 MTR lines experienced disruption.
The affected MTR lines, namely the Kwun Tong line, HK Island, Tseung Kwan O, East Rail, West Rail, with the Airport Express and the Tsuen Wan line were suspended from around 09:00 am to 11:17 am respectively.
At several MTR stations, including Tai Wai, Central, Diamond Hill, and Fortress Hill stations, protesters blocked doors with their bodies and objects such as water bottles. RTHK reported that a protester even at Lai King station blocked the train doors from closing by lying down.
The disturbance was part of a planned citywide strike in seven districts, namely Tuen Mun, Sha Tin, Tsuen Wan, Wong Tai Sin, Tai Po, Mong Kok and Admiralty.
By 9.30am, more than 230 arrival and departure flights on the Hong Kong Airport International Airport website were canceled due to large numbers of staff missing from work. Meanwhile, the Hang Seng Index, the Hong Kong stock market index, was down 1,6 percent when it opened on Monday morning.[]
Photo source: Apple Daily
