Hong Kong was braced for a general strike on Monday a day after protesters blockaded the city’s international airport, capping off a weekend of chaos that involved some of the most intense clashes yet seen in the city’s nearly three-month-old political crisis.
On Sunday afternoon thousands of demonstrators converged on the airport, the world’s third busiest by passenger numbers, shutting down its train shuttle service and barricading roads with shared bikes, trolleys and traffic barriers. Most flights continued operating as normal, although some travellers were unable to arrive in time for their departure. Riot police eventually cleared the crowds of protesters.
“The airport is Hong Kong’s most important economic lifeline,” said Cary, a 19-year-old student, standing in front of makeshift barricades designed to block the major road leading to the airport. “We have to try to shut it down to pressure the government.”