Pro-democracy protesters forced flight cancellations in Hong Kong for the second day in a row as the city’s chief executive Carrie Lam warned mass demonstrations were pushing the city “into an abyss.”

One of the world's busiest airports halted check-ins for departing flights at 4.30pm as protesters again flooded terminals, lining up luggage trolleys at the security checkpoint and blocking people trying to catch their flights. Arriving flights were still expected to land as the evening set in.

Activists have now occupied the airport for five consecutive days as mass demonstrations in Hong Kong enter their third month, despite pleas from city authorities for public order to be restored.

“Let’s set aside differences and spend one minute to look at our city and our home,” said Ms Lam on Tuesday morning in a direct appeal to protesters. “Could we bear to push it into an abyss where everything will perish?”

“Violence, no matter if it’s using violence or condoning violence, will push Hong Kong down a path of no return,” she said, at times appearing to be on the verge of tears, saying that “sincere dialogue” could begin only once chaos ended and calm returned.