Flights canceled, major roads blocked as Hong Kong protests escalate

Our live coverage of Monday’s strikes and protests have ended, but you can read more about the ongoing crisis here.

A group of protesters prevent the doors of a commuter train from closing on August 5.

Hong Kong was hit by widespread strikes Monday that brought chaos to much of the city’s transport network, including Hong Kong International Airport, in the most ambitious day of demonstrations since the movement began in June.

Here’s what happened on Monday:

A Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) soldier in Hong Kong on August 1, 2019.

The idea of China’s People Liberation Army (PLA) on the streets of Hong Kong seemed unthinkable just a few weeks ago. Now it is being considered a possibility.

As Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protests grow in frequency and intensity, the commander of the city’s PLA garrison said last week that protester violence “should not be tolerated.”

Five days of protests: Since then Hong Kong has witnessed another five consecutive days of mass protests, which have shut down stores, disrupted air travel and led to clashes between police and demonstrators. The Hong Kong stock market had its worst day in months on Monday.

Public fears: Hong Kong’s government is legally allowed to request help from the PLA garrison of more than 6,000 soldiers if public order in the city spirals out of control.

There is no indication yet that troops may be deployed – but the fear of PLA intervention has spread through the city and triggered memories of the brutal 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown.

What would happen? The stock market would likely crash, followed by the housing market. A mass exodus could follow.

Given Hong Kong’s close ties to mainland China, a decision to deploy the PLA could ricochet through the entire country at a time when the world’s second biggest economy is already vulnerable because of the trade war with the United States.

Read more here.

Passengers line up at airline counters at Hong Kong international airport on August 5, 2019.

Hong Kong’s Airport Authority reported 224 flights were canceled Monday after a sit in protest at Hong Kong International Airport.

More than 2,300 aviation workers took part in the strike, including 1,200 Cathay cabin crew and pilots, according to the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions.

Monday’s clashes resulted in 24 people being sent to hospitals, the Hong Kong Hospital Authority told CNN.

As of 11 p.m. local time (11 a.m. ET), 16 people have been discharged from hospital, while six are in a stable condition, one is in a serious condition and one is “unknown.”

Protesters have completely blocked off Nathan road at multiple points – which is the major artery in Hong Kong’s Kowloon district.

Protesters set up barricades off Nathan road.

It comes after police fired tear gas to disperse protesters in the area of Prince Edward, outside the Mong Kok police station.

Amnesty International condemned the alleged sexual assault of a female Hong Kong protester by the police on Sunday night, according to a statement.

When asked about the incident earlier on Monday, senior superintendent from Police Public Relations Branch, Yolanda Yu, said “the woman was wearing a dress and she struggled strongly, which explained what happened in front of the camera.”

Amnesty International rebutted the police’s explanation, saying that “protesters’ clothing is not an excuse for the police’s sexual violence.”

The protester has been arrested on suspicion of assaulting an officer.

Amnesty International cautioned that her arrest should be conducted by female officers in order to “safeguard the rights and dignity of the woman under arrest.” 

Hong Kong police said they initially had three female officers attempt to arrest the woman but because she struggled so much, they had to get reinforcement from additional male officers. 

Protesters on the streets of Sham Shui Po on Monday night.

Protesters are moving rapidly between districts. One group of demonstrators is now in Sham Shui Po – a heavily populated area at the northern end of Kowloon that is one of the city’s poorest districts.

Compared to the glitz and glamor of Hong Kong Island, Sham Shui Po is populated mostly by working-class people.

Hundreds of protesters have set up barricades on the roads leading to Sham Shui Po police station.

Officers have already fired tear gas in an effort to move the protesters on.

Monday marked the most widespread – and possibly the biggest – day of protests yet.

After calling for general strikes, protesters started the day by blocking subway doors across the city, throwing the transport system into chaos.

A protester blocks a subway train at Fortress Hill station on August 5.

More than 100 flights were cancelled at Hong Kong airport as ground workers went on strike. There were also disruptions at government offices, beaches – and even Hong Kong Disneyland.

The Mystic Manor ride at Disneyland in Hong Kong was closed on Monday.

Large strike gatherings in seven districts were approved by police. But the demonstrations quickly deteriorated into clashes between protesters and officers.

Demonstrators even reoccupied Harcourt Road, outside the city government offices in one of Hong Kong’s busiest districts. Police in multiple areas responded with tear gas.

Protesters hold their ground after police fired tear gas in Tai Po district on August 5, 2019.

As the night wore on, protesters showed no signs of letting up. They attacked multiple police stations – painting slogans, lighting fires and destroying property.

Armed citizens also appeared to attack demonstrators in the Hong Kong Island district of North Point.

Riot police fire tear gas during a confrontation with protesters on August 5.

Protesters run as police fire tear gas at them in Wong Tai Sin during a general strike in Hong Kong on August 5.

At around 8.45 p.m. local time, there are still multiple stand offs between police and protesters across the city.

In a statement just released, the Hong Kong’s police force condemned the protesters for “blocking roads extensively and setting fire to miscellaneous objects.”

“The protesters are surrounding and attacking various police stations and the adjacent (barracks), hurling igniting objects and hard objects, making damages to the premises,” the statement said.

Police have condemned the violence and said they are using “minimum force” to remove the demonstrators.

Police walk in a line as they attempt to disperse protesters in Wong Tai Sin during a general strike in Hong Kong on August 5.

Two protest scenes have seen flashes of violence on both sides of Hong Kong, with no end in sight to today’s demonstrations.

Police and protesters clashed in the suburban district of Wong Tai Sin, in front of the police barracks. Officers raised the black warning flag and fired tear gas at protesters who temporarily dispersed.

On the other side of Victoria Harbor, there were reports of violence between protesters and armed civilians in the residential area of North Point.

Video from the scene showed the civilians beating protesters with long poles, while the demonstrators threw traffic cones and bollards at them.

Tourists take selfies from Victoria Peak in front of a view of residential and commercial buildings in Kowloon (background) and Hong Kong Island on May 3.

If you’d booked to visit Hong Kong in the next few weeks, you might be feeling concerned right now.

But despite the mass protests, tear gas and riot police on the streets, Hong Kong is still a relatively safe place to visit, with much of the city running as normal.

For its part, the Hong Kong Tourism Commission has said the city is still open to travelers. And key major attractions such as the Peak Tram, the Ladies’ Market and the Star Ferry, which takes passengers across the Victoria Harbor to Kowloon, have been unaffected.

But there are signs the protests are having an impact on tourism.

Between June 16 and July 13, during which time there were several huge demonstrations, flight bookings to Hong Kong from Asia fell by 5.4% on the same period last year, according to analysis firm ForwardKeys.

Read more in this article.

Demonstrations in Hong Kong have forced the city’s biggest airline, Cathay Pacific, to cancel more than 150 flights and urge passengers to postpone non-essential travel.

Cathay Pacific urged customers not to fly Monday and Tuesday, and said it would waive fees for rebooking. Shares in Cathay plunged more than 4% during trading Monday.

The airline is the city’s flagship carrier. It flies about 34 million passengers every year and serves nearly 200 cities around the world from its hub at Hong Kong’s international airport.

Hong Kong Airlines, a smaller carrier, said it has canceled 32 flights. United Airlines said its flights were unaffected.

More than 2,300 aviation workers took part in the strike, including 1,200 Cathay cabin crew and pilots, according to the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions.

Service was suspended for more than an hour Monday morning on the Airport Express, which is a line that zips people between the airport and the city center in under 25 minutes.

Hong Kong air space and runway capacity at the airport has been effectively reduced by 50% for all airlines, according to an internal Cathay Pacific memo seen by CNN that was sent to staff that supports pilots and ensures planes operate efficiently and on time.

More than 74 million passengers traveled to and from Hong Kong’s international airport last year. The major Asian hub handles 1,100 passenger and cargo flights daily, with services between Hong Kong and about 200 international destinations.

Protesters occupy Causeway Bay, one of Hong Kong's most crowded districts, on Sunday.

While older Hong Kongers who grew up in the British colony strongly identify with China and saw a point of pride in the city returning to Chinese rule,today, the number of people who express pride in being a Chinese citizen is at a record low, with a significant number of young people identifying as Hong Kongers rather than Chinese, according to the Hong Kong University Public Opinion Program.

For those who identify as Hong Kongers, the idea of being fully absorbed by what they view as a foreign country is terrifying, let alone a country as authoritarian as Xi Jinping’s China.

Many worry about the impending 2047 deadline, when the current “one country, two systems” model that Hong Kong is governed under expires.

Undoubtedly 2047 seemed like a long way off for those overseeing Hong Kong’s handover, and remained impossibly distant for much of the city’s early political development, but for the student protesters flooding the streets this year, it is very much on the horizon – 18-year-olds today will be 46 when the city becomes fully Chinese.

Unlike many millennial Hong Kongers – whose parents moved abroad in the years running up to handover, taking advantage of generous immigration laws within the British Commonwealth to get their children foreign passports – they also have no way out. This is their home and they’re stuck here, like it or not, so they may as well try to fix it.

Read more here

Protesters started a large fire outside a police station in Sha Tin, a residential area of northern Hong Kong where authorities and demonstrators have clashed today.

After making a pile of boxes and wooden pallets, protesters sparked a fire at about 7.30 p.m. local time. Firefighters have arrived at the scene and are attempting to put it out.

This weekend’s protests saw demonstrators start multiple fires. In the shopping district of Tsim Sha Tsui on Saturday, protesters started a fire inside a car in a police station.

One of the Hong Kong’s biggest roads has been completely blocked by protesters, setting up yet another confrontation with police.

Nathan Road runs down the spine of Kowloon Peninsula and is one of the city’s most important roads. On Saturday night all six lanes were completely occupied by protesters, leading to violent clashes with police.

Protesters take over Nathan Road again on Monday in Hong Kong.

Protesters have now reoccupied the road in the crowded shopping district of Mong Kok, near Argyle Road.

Police are already facing down protesters in Causeway Bay, Tin Shui Wai and Sha Tin, among others.

Although demonstrations have been going on for weeks, this is the first time they’ve spread to so many districts simultaneously.

Riot police stand guard at Wong Tai Sin on August 5 in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong police have arrested 80 people so far today – the highest number in a single day since protests began in early June.

A total of 420 people have been arrested in connection with the 9 week long protest movement, said police spokesperson Yolanda Yu – 317 men and 73 women, aged 16 to 76.

That number could still rise, as confrontations between police and protesters continue this evening across Hong Kong.

Protests and strikes have spread to almost every corner of Hong Kong today.

In the past two months, large, individual demonstrations have paralyzed a single district or led to clashes between police and protesters.

As night falls in Hong Kong, police and protesters are engaged in multiple clashes, with tear gas being fired at five different locations.

Earlier in the day, mass transport strikes and protests massively delayed both trains and planes coming in and out of the city.

Here’s where today’s strike action and demonstrations have taken place so far:

Yang Guang (C) and Xu Luying (R), spokespersons for mainland China's Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office attend a press conference in Beijing on July 29.

The Chinese government office which manages Hong Kon affairsg has announced it will hold its second press briefing on the escalating protests Tuesday.

It will be held at 2.30 p.m. local time, after five days of straight protests in Hong Kong

it comes just one week after they held their first briefing on the demonstrations, where they warned the situation in the city was “grave.”

It is highly unusual for the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office to hold one press briefing but two back-to-back meetings shows how serious Beijing is taking the situation.

The demonstrators who had taken over Harcourt Road, in the center of Hong Kong’s government district, have begun to move away.

Police had fired dozens of rounds of tear gas at the protesters in an attempt to clear the road, which runs alongside the city’s Legislative Council.

It now appears that protesters are moving east towards Causeway Bay, a major Hong Kong shopping and commercial district.

WATCH POLICE FIRING TEAR GAS AT PROTESTERS:

Protesters and police clash in Tin Shui Wai, Hong Kong, on August 5, 2019.

As demonstrators strike and protest in seven districts across Hong Kong, clashes with police are heating up.

Police have fired tear gas in five districts today:

Police throw tear gas from a balcony in Admiralty.

Riot police in Admiralty are now firing tear gas from above at protesters below on the street.

They are firing consecutive rounds, from a balcony close to the headquarters of the city government.

On the street, thousands of protesters dressed in black are chanting “Dirty cops” and “Your whole family will die” at the police.

Since protests began on June 9, police have used 160 rubber bullets, 150 sponge bullets, and fired 1,000 rounds of tear gas, according to a police spokesperson.

Police have been firing tear gas, but few protesters are leaving Admiralty.

Hong Kong stocks just had their worst day in months.

Cathay Pacific, the city’s flagship airline carrier, dropped 4.2%, while MTR – owner of the city’s subway system and a major real estate developer – dropped 3.4%.  

Local real estate developers and financial services firms all tanked.

The top loser was Sun Hung Kai Properties, one of the city’s largest developers. It sank 5.2%. BOC Hong Kong, a major lender owned by Bank of China, fell 3.4%.

Investors are worried about the city’s deteriorating political crisis, slowing economic growth in the region and escalating trade tensions between the United States and China.

Riot police stand guard outside the Tin Shui Wai police station during a protest on August 5, 2019 in Hong Kong.

Earlier this afternoon, riot police in the northern Hong Kong suburb of Tin Shui Wai fired tear gas at a group of protesters, who accused male officers of committing sexual violence against a female protester.

The allegation: Officers had carried away a female protester on Sunday night, even though her underwear had fallen off during the struggle.

In response, protesters on Monday demonstrated outside the Tin Shui Wai police station. Pro-democracy advocate Helena Wong told CNN the actions of police were “very insulting to the female protester and violating the Sex Discrimination Ordinance.”

Police response: A police spokeswoman, Yoland Yu, said Monday that the woman had been arrested for attacking police officers. Yu said three female police officers had been asked to handle the situation, “but she was not cooperative, so two other male officers also joined in.”

Police say the protesters today in Tin Shui Wai threw stones at officers and posed a “serious safety risk” to the public,” and eventually fired tear gas to disperse the crowd.

Police are working to clear a large group of protesters who have occupied Harcourt Road in Admiralty, the major shopping and administrative district which houses Hong Kong’s government.

Harcourt Road has been the heart of Hong Kong’s summer protests. It runs alongside city’s Legislative Council – the primary office of government – and the headquarters for the Chinese military, as well as numerous shopping malls.

Protesters spill onto Harcourt Road as they attend a rally against a controversial extradition law proposal in Hong Kong on June 16

It was first occupied on June 12 by protesters in a move which police and government officials described as a riot.

Since then it has been taken over multiple times by protesters, including on the night of July 1, when the Legislative Council offices were broken into and trashed.

Now they’re back again.

Pro-democracy lawmaker Eddie Chu (L) and Jeremy Tam (R) stand before a police line on Harcourt Road outside the government headquarters after the annual flag raising ceremony to mark the 22nd anniversary of the city's handover from Britain to China, in Hong Kong on July 1.

We’re approaching evening in Hong Kong, but the citywide unrest, which began at 7 a.m. local time, continues unabated.

Here’s what has happened since our last catch-up:

The increasingly violent nature of the political unrest in Hong Kong has led many to ask where the protest movement is heading.

Escalating violence: No developments have so far shown any signs of dampening the protests, nor is there any sign the government is ready to make concessions that could mollify anger and restore calm.

With violence becoming the norm, there is always the possibility that the Chinese government, which has so far taken a seemingly hands-off approach, will step in and exercise more control.

Will China intervene? Although Hong Kong is a Chinese city, China’s military is not involved in its every day security. Since its handover in 1997, Hong Kong has been governed under a separate set of laws allowing greater economic and personal freedoms for its citizens.

There are at least 6,000 Chinese troops stationed in Hong Kong, but mostly hidden in plain sight. There has so far been no firm indication that China is planning to move troops outside of their garrison, or that Beijing has any desire to deploy troops to the city.

Read more here

Protesters set up shop outside the arrivals terminal in Hong Kong International Airport.

There are about 20 to 30 protesters at the Hong Kong International Airport, carrying signs and marching. It’s fairly small and peaceful, with airport security keeping an eye on the protesters.

With 1,200 aviation workers on strike, the airport has seen over 100 canceled flights today. It was packed full of travelers in the morning, and as this afternoon, the terminal was still “busier than usual,” according to airport authorities.

Protesters hoist signs onto luggage carts at Hong Kong's airport.

Authorities also said that the number of flights in the afternoon and evening “will be gradually increased.”

An international transport hub: Hong Kong’s airport is one of the busiest in Asia. Last year, more than 73 million passengers and more than five million tonnes of air cargo passed through the airport.

Many of the protests that turn violent follow a similar – if not predictable – script.

They begin peacefully, then deviate from the locations approved by police – making them illegal, or unsanctioned assemblies.

Demonstrators, often dressed in black with yellow helmets, then set up makeshift barriers using sidewalk railings, trash cans and other items nearby. They spray paint and cut traffic lights to better control traffic, obscuring their identities using umbrellas.

Protesters set impromptu barricades in Causeway Bay Sunday night.

Often it can bring major thoroughfares to a complete standstill. On Sunday night, protesters occupied Gloucester Road, a major highway on Hong Kong Island.

Protesters occupy Hong Kong's Gloucester Road on Sunday night.

Often you’ll see parts of sidewalks missing bricks, having been dug up. CNN has witnessed protesters throwing bricks at police vehicles and riot police.

Police usually respond in force, setting barricades and issuing warnings to protesters over loudspeakers while wearing full protective gear in the city’s stifling, humid summer.

Police stand guard near the China Liaison Office in Hong Kong's Sai Ying Pun district Sunday.

There’s something of a “no-man’s land” between the two sides – and in the middle it can get dangerous. Protesters will throw items at police, while officers will fire tear gas before advancing forward. Demonstrators have also started using laser pointers.

Protesters use laser pointers during a standoff with police in Hong Kong's Causeway Bay Sunday night.

A massive media contingent – sometimes in the hundreds – usually stands to the side of the police to record the impending chaos in a relatively safe location. Some stand back with protesters, though that’s more dangerous when police fire rubber bullets.

Members of the press seen among the tear gas Sunday night.

Once police use tear gas, things move fast with protesters and the media quickly putting on gas masks. Police advance forward, firing tear gas, obscuring the vision of protesters.

It’s much more intense than the previous protest movements in the city, such as the Occupy Movement five years ago, when police fired much less tear gas. Protesters are also more brazen and prone to violence and arson this time.

Protesters run from riot police on Sunday night.

Police have fired tear gas to disperse protesters on Harcourt Road in Admiralty, the heart of the city and home to the government’s main offices.

It’s the third time police have fired tear gas today – earlier, they fired it in the separate districts of Tin Shui Wai and Wong Tai Sin.

Protesters on Harcourt Road are pushing back at the police, grabbing tear gas canisters and throwing them back at the police lines.

Demonstrators are spread out far and wide across the city at present – organizers had called for strikes and protests in seven different districts.

Admiralty in particular is a charged area – it’s home to Tamar Park, where police supporters have gathered for pro-government rallies, to the Legislative Council, which anti-bill protesters stormed and trashed on July 1, and to police buildings, which anti-bill protesters have surrounded and thrown eggs at in previous protests.

Watch a time lapse of protesters and tear gas:

In an ongoing press conference, police spokesperson Yolanda Yu condemned violence committed by pro-democracy protesters, and said police officers wanted to restore order out of love for the city.

Yu and another spokesman surnamed Kong urged protesters to express their views in peaceful and law-abiding ways.

In an ongoing police press conference, a spokesman said they had arrested 420 people since the protests first began on June 9.

Some were charged with unlawful assembly – protesters have often veered off police-approved routes – while others were charged with attacking police officers.

Meanwhile, 23 people have been arrested in connection with the Yuen Long attack last month, when an armed mob attacked civilians in the Yuen Long district subway station, leaving at least 45 people injured.

Police response: Riot police have clashed many times with protesters in the last two months. Since June 9, they have used 160 rubber bullets, 150 sponge bullets, and fired 1,000 rounds of tear gas.

“We don’t want to use teargas in residential areas, but if we have to, we would go through several considerations and remain very restrained,” said a police spokesman, saying the protesters had “crossed the line of peace.”

139 police officers have been injured since June 9, with two still in the hospital, said the spokesman.

Police have now fired tear gas at protesters in a second district in Hong Kong – Wong Tai Sin, in North Kowloon.

Just an hour earlier, they fired tear gas in Tin Shui Wai, a suburb further north close to the China-Hong Kong border.

“A large group of protestors are currently gathering Wong Tai Sin Lung Cheung Road and hurling objects at police officers, posing a serious safety threat to members of the public at scene,” said police in a statement.

As they did in Tin Shui Wai, police are asking residents in Wong Tai Sin to close their windows against the tear gas and avoid going outside.

Wong Tai Sin is famous for its temple, a large traditional complex devoted to a Taoist deity of the same name.

At a police press conference, a police spokesperson said the start of the demonstrations had largely been peaceful – until July 1, when a small group of protesters stormed and trashed the Legislative Council building.

“Some protesters are radical and vandalize things. They have thrown bricks at police, shot metal balls at police, and pushed flaming trash cans and flaming carts at the police,” said Senior Superintendent Yolanda Yu.

Yu accused protesters of using “guerrilla tactics” to disrupt the public order, and said police had been “restrained” during protests.

Protesters occupy Harcourt Road, a major thoroughfare on Hong Kong island, on Monday afternoon.

The general strikes across Hong Kong today are believed to be the first of their kind since 1967, when a Chinese Communist Party-allied union instigated widespread labor protests.

At the time, Hong Kong was a colony of the United Kingdom and Mao Zedong was the leader of mainland China. As the protesters turned their focus from labor rights to the British colonial administration, work stoppages brought the territory to a standstill.

The strikes were followed by deadly terror attacks that left 51 people dead.

Antony Dapiran, a lawyer and Hong Kong historian, said today’s strikes are likely the biggest strikes since those in 1967.

“We’ve had rallies in Hong Kong before, we’ve had protests, but we’ve never had anything where multiple sites around the city have all simultaneously have been the focus of protests,” said Dapiran, the author of “City of Protest: A Recent History of Dissent in Hong Kong.”

With civil servants and employees citywide on strike, Hong Kong’s Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced several public facilities across various districts are closing early at 3 p.m. Hong Kong time.

Here are the affected facilities:

Pedestrians walk past a Prada shop in Hong Kong.

Demonstrations have hurt Hong Kong retailers in recent months, forcing many stores to close and bringing down some companies’ sales.

Annie Yau Tse, chairman of the Hong Kong Retail Management Association, said in a recent statement that most of the group’s member companies “indicated that their sales since June have dropped by single or double digits.”

July and August mark a “peak season” for summer sales – and if protests continue, retailers expect “business to be greatly affected,” she added.

Global luxury brands are among those impacted.

Prada said in a company earnings call last week that its sales had been “negatively impacted by social unrest in Hong Kong,” while Richemont, the owner of Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels, noted last month that sales in Hong Kong had “retreated” in part due to the rallies.

Protesters are gathering in Admiralty, on Hong Kong Island.

Protesters have gathered in Admiralty district – the beating heart of the city.

They are building road blocks out of traffic cones and street barriers, locked together by umbrellas.

Harcourt Road, close to the legislative council complex, is a sea of black – the color associated with the pro-democracy, anti-extradition bill protest.

Many of the young protesters are wearing masks to obscure their faces.

This is just one of seven districts where protesters are gathering – there are also protest groups in Wong Tai Sin and Tin Shui Wai districts, among others.

Protesters on Harcourt Road are building road blocks using umbrellas as makeshift joiners.

Speaking to CNN earlier today, pro-democratic activist Nathan Law said Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam had failed to appease Hong Kong citizens, and was only inflaming the situation with her “arrogance.”

“Carrie Lam doesn’t even meet the bare minimum of the people, which is to fully withdraw the bill and set up an investigative commission of the police brutality. I think it’s a really, really humble demand.”

Watch the clip here:

It’s been a long day of demonstrations and strikes across Hong Kong, with the unrest starting as early as 7 a.m., and continuing now into the afternoon.

If you’re just joining us now, here’s what you need to know:

Pedestrians walk past HSBC in the Admiralty district of Hong Kong.

Continued protests in Hong Kong are beginning to jeopardize the city’s image as a global business hub and favored gateway to China, experts have warned.

Hong Kong is home to seven Fortune Global 500 companies and operates as an Asian base for several major international banks.

Much of this is due to the “one country, two systems” policy under which the semi-autonomous Chinese city is governed.

The city’s separate legal framework, known as Basic Law, allows for a much freer political system than the rest of mainland China, permitting both semi-democratic elections and free right to protest.

At present, Hong Kong enjoys a higher credit rating than mainland China, but this rests on the city’s “governance standards, rule of law, policy framework, and business and regulatory environments” remaining “distinct from those of mainland China,” said Fitch Ratings, in a recent note.

The possibility that Chinese authorities may look to take a firmer hand in Hong Kong affairs – something that many people have begun to speculate on in light of the recent unrest – could therefore threaten these unique differences.

Separately, the American Chamber of Commerce has warned that businesses are “reporting serious consequences from the disruption caused by weeks of mass demonstrations.”

These consequences include an immediate drop in revenue, disrupted supply chains and shelved investments, according to the group’s latest survey.

And that could hurt the city’s overall economy.

Last week, the government released preliminary data showing what it called “subdued” economic performance in the second quarter – and some analysts say it could slump further this year.

Tommy Wu at Oxford Economics said he expects the city’s GDP to grow by less than 1% this year, compared with 3% in 2018.

“We expect Q3 to be weaker than previously forecast as the current political turmoil weighs on consumer and business sentiment,” he noted.

For weeks now, protesters in Hong Kong have speculated on whether Chinese military troops based in the city would take action and intervene in the ongoing protests.

There are at least 6,000 Chinese troops stationed at the garrison in northern Hong Kong, close to the border with mainland China.

Although Hong Kong is a Chinese city, the Chinese troops are not involved in its everyday security. Since its handover in 1997, Hong Kong has been governed under a separate set of laws allowing greater economic and personal freedoms for its citizens.

But people are worried: The commander of China’s People Liberation Army (PLA) garrison in Hong Kong warned last week that violence by pro-democracy groups “should not be tolerated,” and called the protesters “violent criminals.”

The garrison also marked the PLA’s 92nd anniversary with a video showing PLA soldiers storming a Hong Kong-style street, complete with a Hong Kong taxi.

There has so far been no firm indication that the PLA is planning to move outside its garrison, or that Beijing has any desire to deploy troops to the city – but a number of pro-Beijing politicians have made it clear that it remains an active option.

Watch the PLA’s video here:

Police have fired tear gas in Tin Shui Wai, a northern suburb in Hong Kong, after facing off with protesters.

“A large group of protestors are currently surrounding the Tin Shui Wai Police Station and hurling stones at police officers, posing a serious safety threat to members of the public at scene,” said police in a statement.

The police also asked residents in the area to keep their windows closed to avoid the tear gas.

Tin Shui Wai is located far north in Hong Kong’s New Territories, close to the Hong Kong-China border. It’s right next to the suburb of Yuen Long, where an armed mob attacked civilians in a subway station last month, leaving at least 45 injured.

Hong Kong Disneyland is one of the areas called to go on strike today.

Organizers aren’t just calling people to strike in Hong Kong’s metropolitan centers – they’re also calling for a strike in Disneyland.

The amusement park is eerily empty today, with only about 50 people milling around outside the park and about a dozen going in.

Several rides in Disneyland are closed today.

It’s a far cry from the park’s usual long lines, which can stretch to an hour’s wait on busy days – especially on sunny summer days like today, when children are on vacation.

Some attractions are shut at Hong Kong Disneyland today.

Inside the park, signs notify visitors that some of the attractions and rides are closed today – though this may also be due to renovations.

Food carts and restaurants are shuttered. Even “It’s a Small World” is closed.

Watch a Disneyland band play to a largely empty street:

Paul Chan, Hong Kong's financial secretary, speaks during a news conference on July 25.

Financial Secretary Paul Chan warned Monday that the risk of recession is rising in Hong Kong.

Chan specifically cited the protests that have rocked the city since June, as well as the global economic slowdown.

“In the second quarter, Hong Kong’s economy declined 0.3% on a quarterly basis. If it continues to post negative growth in the third quarter, then technically Hong Kong’s economy will slide into a recession,” Chan wrote.

Chan suggested that hundreds of thousands of jobs in catering, retail, accommodation and trade and logistics could be affected.

As Hong Kong’s demonstrations ratcheted up over the last two months, mainland China’s state media responded by condemning protester violence and calls for full democracy in the semi-autonomous city.

Here’s a look at what state media outlets are saying:

Lifeguard posts at Hong Kong's Shek O beach appeared to be empty Monday.

With lifeguards on strike around Hong Kong, several beaches had no lifesaving services today.

Affected beaches were Golden Beach, Repulse Bay Beach and Shek O Beach, according to Hong Kong’s Leisure and Cultural Services Department.

The department cited “an insufficient number of lifeguards on duty,” although first-aid services were still available.

While Hong Kong is known for its skyscrapers and city skyline, it also boasts 41 public beaches across its many districts – Repulse Bay and Shek O being two popular ones.

People go for a swim at Hong Kong's Shek O beach, one of the places affected by the lifeguard strike.

The Hong Kong government has warned protesters today could push the city into a “very dangerous situation” after another weekend of demonstrations paralyzed traffic and transformed an iconic shopping district into a battleground.

Protesters seen bringing traffic to a standstill on Hong Kong's Gloucester Road in Causeway Bay, one of the busiest thoroughfares in Hong Kong.

Protesters swarmed the streets of Causeway Bay on Hong Kong Island on Sunday night, blocking key roads in the ninth consecutive weekend of political unrest. Police fired a barrage of tear gas in a bid to disperse the crowds.

Causeway Bay is a retail hub and consumer, home to a large number of shopping malls, high-end department stores and luxury boutiques.

Riot police follow protesters into Causeway Bay from Gloucester Road Sunday night.

Earlier, in a separate demonstration in the eastern New Territories, a group of protesters gathered around a police station, throwing objects and breaking windows.

Riot police seen in Causeway Bay Sunday night.

The government on Sunday night condemned the unrest, saying in a statement that “blatant violation of law, wanton destruction of public peace and violent attacks on the police will harm Hong Kong’s society, economy and our people’s livelihood.”

“Such acts have already gone far beyond the limits of peaceful and rational protests for which the government and general public will not condone under any circumstances,” the statement added. “Otherwise they will push Hong Kong into a very dangerous situation.”

Protesters take cover amid a barrage of tear gas fire.

2,330 aviation workers have joined Hong Kong’s citywide strike as of 7 a.m. local time today, according to the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions.

95 affiliate members of the Confederation called for strike action, according to Chairwoman Carol Ng. The aviation sector was the first to join the call for strike, Ng said, partially paralyzing the airport. 

Here’s the breakdown of aviation workers on strike:

It’s not just aviation workers: Ng said other unions have also called for a strike, including unions for catering, security, property management, teachers, and builders. The Builders Union have told Ng that “a number of buildings sites are closed today” due to the strike. 

Ng added that nearly 14,000 people from the engineering sector joined Monday’s strike.

A group of protesters prevent the doors of a train from closing on August 5, 2019 in Hong Kong.

Protesters across Hong Kong blocked trains from leaving subway stations, forcing umbrellas or even standing between the doors.

The worst disruptions came in the morning, when people were traveling to work, with up to eight subway lines obstructed – including the Island Line, perhaps the most crucial as it contains stops for Central and Admiralty, where many people work.

Train services on the Island Line, Tsuen Wan Line, Kwun Tong Line, West Rail Line, East Rail Line and Tung Chung Line are now “gradually resuming,” according to the MTR subway site.

Protesters blocking the train doors at Fortress Hill station in Hong Kong on August 5, 2019.

Claudia Mo, a pro-democracy legislator, speaking on August 5, 2019.

Pro-democracy lawmakers criticized Hong Kong’s leader Carrie Lam as “out of touch,” speaking about an hour after Lam gave a press conference, Monday.

How Hong Kong’s leaders are picked: Hong Kong is a semi-autonomous Chinese city, but it does not have full democracy – its leader is chosen by tiny election committee drawn mostly from Hong Kong’s elite.

The committee is dominated by pro-establishment voters, who typically follow the wishes of the central Chinese government in Beijing.

When Lam was elected, the committee included Hong Kong’s richest man Li Ka-shing, pro-Beijing politician Regina Ip, as well as Hong Kong deputies to China’s National People’s Congress and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.

Pro-democracy complaints: “Young people are fighting for rule of law and human rights, and the government has been completely out of touch,” Mo added.

Another pro-democracy lawmaker, Fernando Cheung, placed the blame on Lam, stating, “The entire situation is created by her. If she didn’t push ahead with the Fugitive Ordinance, we wouldn’t be here today.”

The Ordinance refers to a controversial extradition bill that would have allowed extradition to China. The bill, which started protests in June, has since been suspended – but protester demands have evolved to include calls for broader democracy.

Cathay Pacific is one of several airlines that have canceled flights in Hong Kong today amid strikes and protests.

The Hong Kong airport’s airspace and runway capacity has effectively been reduced by 50% for all airlines, according to an internal memo sent to staff of the Cathay Pacific airline.

More than 100 flights have been canceled today, with affected airlines including Cathay, China Airlines, and Hong Kong Airlines. Photos from earlier this morning showed long lines of people at check-in counters, and crowds of travelers stuck at the airport.

When the protests first started in June, it was in opposition to a now-suspended bill that would have allowed extradition to China. But now, protester demands have expanded, and organizers have issued five demands in the wake of the unrest.

A widely circulated poster announcing Sunday’s protest in Hong Kong listed those five demands as:

The five demands haven’t always been exactly the same, and they shift depending on which organizer group you ask at what time. Some have included the resignation of Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam as one of the five demands.

During protests in Hong Kong on Saturday, a protester removed a Chinese national flag that was flying in front of a building in Tsim Sha Tsui and threw it into the sea, sparking outrage among state officials. 

Now, the former Hong Kong Chief Executive CY Leung has offered $1 million Hong Kong dollars (about $128,000) to anybody who can provide clues about the “maniac who threw the national flag into the sea.” 

His offer states that the person will receive their reward once the “maniac” is convicted by the court. 

Hong Kong stocks rallied 6% in June as investor sentiment received a boost after the tentative trade truce reached at the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan.

But it has slid nearly 9% since its recent peak on July 2, as the ongoing mass protests and renewed trade war tensions both weighed heavily on the market.

Last Monday, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index had its worst drop in a week, as stocks for property developers, shopping mall owners and retailers all sank.

Today, the Hang Seng Index tumbled 3.1% in the morning trade, the biggest drop in almost ten months, as local property developers and airline operators took a hit. Property developers that are listed on the Hang Seng in particular are being slammed.

Share prices have dropped for airline Cathay Pacific, which has canceled over 70 flights today.

Hong Kong’s subway system is crucial to the city’s daily life – and today, much of it is down.

Protesters are blocking trains from leaving, and some trains were delayed in stations for more than 40 minutes.

Major subway lines like the Island Line have been obstructed – meaning people can’t get to Central and Admiralty, a major business hub, where many international offices and workplaces are based.

Central in particular is the city’s financial center, and the location of several international banks, including Standard Chartered, HSBC and CITI.

The American Chamber of Commerce has announced its closure for the day due to “public safety concerns.”

Millions affected: An average of 4.84 million passengers ride the subway every day, according to the Hong Kong Transport Department, that’s equivalent to half of the city’s total population.

It’s not just the subway – protesters are also holding up traffic on roads and highways. That also raises the number of people affected – 12.7 million passengers travel on public transit every day, including trams, buses, and taxis.

Patients with hospital appointments may not be able to attend due to the traffic disruptions, said a spokesperson from the Hong Kong Hospital Authority.

The statement also asked hospital supervisors to be flexible with staffing since many staff many not be able to report for duty.

Today may be the most ambitious and wide-ranging day of demonstrations so far this summer.

Starting from 7 a.m., protesters began blocking Hong Kong’s bus and train system in attempts to spark a citywide traffic jam. General strikes and protests are also planned to take place in seven districts across the city.

Here’s where the protests are happening today:

In addition to the seven districts, organizers have also called for a general strike at Disneyland, located on Hong Kong’s Lantau Island.

There are more than 100 canceled flights in Hong Kong's airport today.

Today’s strikes and protests are expected to impact various sectors of Hong Kong life – including air travel.

Hong Kong is a leading international transport hub. Last year, more than 73 million passengers and more than five million tonnes of air cargo passed through the city’s International Airport.

Already, more than 100 flights have been canceled or delayed today, and the airport is packed full of travelers.

Here are the airlines with affected flights, as of 11 a.m., Monday morning:

Some are still operating as usual:

Airlines were vague about the cause of the cancellations, citing “circumstances affecting Hong Kong International Airport operations.”

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam at her news conference Monday. Lam spoke for under an hour about the state of the city amid recent political turmoil.

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam’s news conference has concluded.

Lam used the public appearance to call for an end to the violence that has rocked Hong Kong in recent weeks.

Here are some of the highlights:

In an ongoing press conference, Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Carrie Lam pledged to “engage more, listen more, and do more to meet the wishes of Hong Kong.”

Earlier in the press conference, the city’s embattled leader acknowledged that her attempt to push through the now-suspended extradition bill had been a “failure” – but she also reaffirmed the government’s firm stance against protester violence and calls for revolution.

Hong Kong enjoys certain freedoms, including freedoms of expression, assembly, and press, she said – but added that the current crisis is no longer about “individual aspirations or about the bill.”

“I’m sure individual sectors who still have a stake in this society would like us to defend,” Lam said, again calling for people to “rally together” and restore order in the city.

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said she would not be stepping down amid recent political unrest.

Carrie Lam said she and her ministers would not be resigning, but would remain in their positions in order to “serve Hong Kong” and ensure the city’s return to normalcy.

Many of the protesters have called on Lam to resign amid the recent political unrest.

Lam vowed to engage more and do more to meet the wishes of the people of Hong Kong.

Lam said the government always reflects on its work and has met with “friends from different sectors.”

She said she was unable to identify the names of the businesses or sectors, owing to fears that they would become a target for protesters.

“The only way is deal with (violence) is by the rule of law, which is the most important core value of Hong Kong,” she said.

Protest leaders are calling on people to participate in strikes and protests across Hong Kong – the fifth straight day of mass demonstrations in the city.

Here’s how they unfolded:

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam appears at a press conference on August 5, 2019.

Hong Kong’s leader Carrie Lam today said she could not release all the demonstrators arrested this summer and drop their charges – one of the protesters’ five demands.

Speaking at a press conference, the Chief Executive said she was not permitted to do so under the rule of law.

Scores of people have been arrested in connection with the protests this summer – there were 44 arrested just yesterday.

Lam added that “the nature” of the protests had evolved. Now, with their extended demands, the protesters were “destroying the way of life for all 7 million people,” she said.

Hong Kong shops and retailers have been hurt by the ongoing protests, financial secretary Paul Chan said in a press conference today.

“We announced the quarter 2 GDP growth, which was 0.6%. If we take into account the seasonal adjustments our economy is already going downwards,” Chan said.

He cited decreases in sales in several industries, including jewelry and catering, and said Hong Kong was heading down a “road of no return.”

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index has fallen nearly 9% since a recent peak on July 2.

Though half the flights arriving or leaving in Hong Kong have been canceled, the airport is still packed with people. The business class check-in line, usually empty or with only a few people on a regular day, was registering a 45-minute wait.

One passenger, Andrea Lo, was due to fly from Japan to Hong Kong – but her flight has now been rescheduled for tomorrow evening.

Lines at the airport, which is usually calm on a weekday.

Matthew Cheung, the secretary for administration, addressed today’s planned citywide strikes in a press conference.

“Strikes will bring no good to Hong Kong,” he said, thanking workers who had left for work earlier today ahead of planned transit disruptions by protesters and calls for a citywide strike.

“We express strong regret that protesters are blocking MTR train doors. We urge employers to show compassion for employees who show up to work late.”

Cheung added that emergency and hospital services had not been impacted so far.

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam speaks during a press conference on August 5, 2019.

In an ongoing press conference, Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam condemned the violent protests that have rumbled on for months despite her suspending the controversial extradition bill that started them all.

“Such extensive disruptions in the name of certain demands, or uncooperative movement have seriously undermined Hong Kong’s law and order, and are pushing our city – the city we all love and many of us helped to build – to the verge of a very dangerous situation,” she said.

“We all love Hong Kong and have made different contributions to its stability and prosperity over the years,” she added, calling for citizens to “set aside differences” and rally together.

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam speaks to the media Monday.

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said that the mass protests that have rocked the city over the past nine weeks are impacting the city’s economy.

“Our economy and livelihood have started to show signs of problems. Our society is becoming unsafe and unstable,” she said.

Lam said the government had set up a cross-department working group to monitor strikes across the city on Monday.

“Some can choose to go on strike, but they should respect others’ rights to go to work,” Lam said, noting that those most affected by the strikes are low-income groups.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index has fallen nearly 9% since a recent peak on July 2, a day after the annual July 1 protests that mark the anniversary of the city’s handover from the United Kingdom to China in 1997.

Speaking in an ongoing press conference, Chief Executive Carrie Lam said calls for revolution “far exceeded” the protesters’ original demands, and insisted Hong Kong was already free.

“They called for revolution and to liberate Hong Kong. These have far exceeded the original demands.”

She added that protester actions would “undermine Hong Kong’s stability.”

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam has just started speaking, addressing the media as protests and strikes begin across the city.

“Hong Kong has always been one of the safest cities in the world. Here we can express our views freely,” she said.

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam speaks to the media on July 22, 2019.

All eyes will be on Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam Monday morning.

Lam, who is due to appear at 10 a.m. local time, has come under significant criticism both for the way she’s handled the city’s evolving protests and for her perceived lack of communication with the public.

She’s only spoken publicly a handful of times – despite protests taking place for nine weekends in a row.

The protest movement began in opposition to a controversial bill that would have allowed extradition to China. Lam was a major proponent of the measure, but after hundreds of thousands of people took to the street in opposition to the bill, she admitted that she had not understood the depth of public opposition. She then apologized and shelved the proposed law.

Many protesters were angry that Lam did not fully withdraw the bill. Demonstrators who have taken to the streets in recent days have been calling for Lam to step down and for the full withdrawal of the bill.

At total of 44 people were arrested in Hong Kong for “unlawful assembly and possession of offensive weapons,” during yesterday’s protests, the police said today.

Police said they “discharged tear gas” at protesters after “repeated but futile warnings” to get them to disperse.

The police condemned “the radical protestors who disregarded law and order.”

In just a few minutes, Hong Kong’s embattled Chief Executive Carrie Lam is scheduled to speak with media outside her office.

Also there will be the Chief Secretary for Administration and the Financial Secretary.

We’ll be listening to bring you the latest updates here.

With seven districts across Hong Kong going on strike, the city’s airport authority warned yesterday that “capacity will be reduced” – and now, the airport is packed with people, and nearly half the flights coming in or out of the city have been canceled or delayed.

Here’s just a few of the Cathay Pacific flights that have been canceled:

If you’re in Hong Kong right now – don’t try to go anywhere.

Subway stations are packed, trains aren’t leaving, the roads are backed up with traffic, and the crucial Cross-Harbour Tunnel may be blocked.

This is part of today’s wide-ranging direct action protests, which aim to disrupt major transit routes across the city..

There are protesters at subway stations, holding doors open so the trains can’t leave. At least eight subway lines are being affected: the Island Line, Tseung Kwan O Line, West Rail Line, East Rail Line, Tsuen Wan Line, Kwun Tong Line, Tung Chung Line, and Airport Express.

A protester lies on the floor, preventing the train from leaving in Hong Kong.

At the Lai King station, a train has now been stuck at the station for over 45 minutes. The protesters refuse to let the train forward – meanwhile, the station intercom repeatedly plays the familiar recorded message: “Please stand back from the closing doors.”

Police are at various stations, trying to control the transit disruptions. Several have pulled aside protesters to check their identification and question them.

It’s not just the trains – traffic is getting backed up everywhere. Nathan Road, a major artery in Kowloon, is backed up with buses this morning.

There are also reports of protesters trying to block the Cross-Harbour Tunnel, which connects Hong Kong Island with Kowloon – the busiest and most crucial tunnel in Hong Kong.

Today will likely be a chaotic day as protesters try to block major city transit systems and gather in numerous areas across Hong Kong. This is the ninth consecutive week of protests – and they don’t seem to be stopping anytime soon.

Here’s what you need to know: