Commuters shout at a protester who deliberately stopped a train door from closing with an umbrella at the Fortress Hill MTR station of the Island Line in Hong Kong. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]
A chaotic, difficult Monday frustrated thousands of Hong Kong commuters as radical protesters deliberately disrupted train services in several MTR stations and occupied a key cross-harbor tunnel.
Rushed travelers tried to argue with the protesters, but to no avail. Many were stranded in MTR stations due to the disruption.
Radical protesters opposing the SAR government's already-suspended extradition law amendment threatened paralysis of the city's public transport system, and planned public meetings in seven locations for the afternoon.
Almost no passengers were seen waiting at the normally bustling bus stations next to the Hung Hom Cross-harbour Tunnel, which was blocked by extremist protesters three times over the past weekend. They used barricades to block the tunnel again this morning. Following the blockage, police swiftly cleared the obstruction.
No passengers are visible at the usually bustling bus stations at Hung Hom Cross-Harbour Tunnel in Hong Kong, owing to a traffic blockage mounted by anti-government protesters on Monday morning. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]
MTR service on different lines were suspended, including the Tsim Sha Tsui to Kwai Hing section of the Tsuen Wan Line, Tsing Yi to Nan Cheong station on the Tung Chung Line and Kowloon Tong to Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau, a key rail service with checkpoints connecting to Shenzhen.
Chief Executive of the Hong Kong SAR Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor will meet with media at 10 am, with Chief Secretary Cheung Kin-chung and Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po. She is expected to comment on the growing nuisance and violence from protesters since the middle of June.
