Hong Kong’s international airport is set to become the target of protests for democracy and autonomy today. In anticipation of the demonstrators, the police responded with increased security measures. Riot police patrolled the building in the morning (local time). Also, the timetable for the express train to the airport was changed.
Just last week target of protests
The airport, one of the most important aviation hubs in the world, has repeatedly been the target of protests in recent weeks. Last Sunday, thousands of people had temporarily shut down operations despite a ban.
Before the expected protest at the airport, riots broke out in the evening in Hong Kong’s city center. Some protesters set fire to barricades, police fired tear gas and rubber bullets. It will be the 14th weekend in a row to be demonstrated in the autonomously administered Chinese special administrative region. The resentment is directed against the government, against police violence, but also against China’s communist leadership.
Merkel on delicate China mission
In the midst of the unrest in Hong Kong, and also with regard to the trade war between the US and China, Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel’s twelfth trip to China is tricky. Economic cooperation has also been better – Chinese investment in Germany has recently collapsed.
