Feared airport chaos fails to materialise

Feared airport chaos fails to materialise

Two medical volunteers were told their help wasn't needed and they were escorted to a bus. Photo: RTHK

A passenger heading to Taiwan, a couple of first aid volunteers, and a man who said he was heading to Disneyland were among those caught up in the authorities' action on Saturday to prevent another day of transport chaos around Hong Kong airport.



Fearing road links to Chek Lap Kok would be crippled again – as they were last Sunday – police were checking buses arriving on Lantau for any signs of protesters.



But despite plans for the airport protest being widely shared on social media, no action had actually materialised two hours after the announced start time of 1pm.



As a few people wearing black sat on the ground by a bus stop at the airport, bailiffs warned that the entire area was covered by a court injunction banning any disruption to airport operations, and that those found guilty of ignoring the order risked imprisonment.



A boy who had been sitting down said he was only at the airport for sightseeing and he soon left by bus.



A man wearing black clothes, surnamed Lee, said he had been pulled off a bus despite having a ticket for a flight on Saturday evening. He said he had arrived early, fearing transport problems.



"I was just heading to Taiwan. Why did they demand I open my luggage here in front of so many people?" he asked.



Two medical volunteers wearing fluorescent vests said they were at the airport in case they could be of any assistance.



But they were told by an Airport Authority manager that their help was not needed and the pair were escorted to a bus heading for Kwun Tong.



Another man told reporters that he was stopped as he was heading to Disneyland. He said police looked nervous when they found he had a raincoat and a mask on him, and they checked his ID.



Train services to the airport had also been reduced and police were maintaining a visible presence at a number of MTR stations, including Tsing Yi and Tung Chung.



At around 3pm, a small number of people gathered inside Tung Chung Station, chanting slogans against the police.