Things changed for the couple when an expatriate friend was knocked to the ground by police in an incident at Sheung Wan on the sidelines of a protest, caught on video that has gone viral. Policemen arrest a protester during Tuesday's violence at Hong Kong airport. Credit:AP “We were shocked by that... that doesn’t happen in Hong Kong. It was kind of the turning point,” she says. Friends who have lived in Hong Kong longer, 50 years, including a retired Hong Kong police officer, told her they were very upset by what they are seeing. “There has never been a fear of the police,” she says.

Wendell says: “It is not all the police force. The protesters have done some shocking things.” Loading The family lived immersed in the community in the New Territories while their sons were at school. The couple moved into Hong Kong island more recently, after their children moved to Australia to go to university, and have heard the protests. An artist, Helen says most of her friends are pro-democracy, and she has participated in several protests during the day to sketch.

But the shut down of the airport this week has fundamentally changed things, she says. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video “My local friends are looking for exit plans... immigration applications are up. A lot are trying to stay close to Hong Kong, to move to Taiwan or Australia,” she says. It is easier for the couple, who have Australian passports. “We had already been thinking of going soon because we have grandchildren in Australia.”

But she feels a sense of guilt: “We have said we are not bailing. Our friends in Australia say it is good you are going, but we say this has been our home for almost two decades, we can’t just switch off.” Helen Bronte Boyd and husband Wendell: "Hong Kong will never be the same." Credit:Kirsty Needham She says you can’t talk to anyone in Hong Kong, no matter how brief the conversation, without the protests coming up. “Everybody is quite shocked. Hong Kong, until now, has been the safest city. I raised teenagers here and I never worried about them catching public transport. As a woman home alone because I have a husband who travels a lot for business, I could walk around at 11pm and never worry.” She was at the airport during the day on Monday, sketching, and had been offered water and a pillow to sit on by the protesting students, who apologised to travellers.