Hong Kong airport closed
Join Date: Dec 2018
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The "Red Army" was the Soviet Union. This would be the "People's Liberation Army", coming to liberate us HKers from any ideas of unapproved thought or action.
I'm not sure about that ...
The Guardian today: "State media outlets [posted] videos with a rousing choral soundtrack showing armoured troop carriers purportedly driving to Shenzhen, the south-eastern state that borders Hong Kong. Chinese officials have released a series of threatening statements about Hong Kong's protesters, with one claiming 'terrorism' was emerging in the city on Monday after flights were cancelled Subscribe to Guardian News on YouTube"
You would hope the CCP government would want to avoid another tiananmen.
The Guardian today: "State media outlets [posted] videos with a rousing choral soundtrack showing armoured troop carriers purportedly driving to Shenzhen, the south-eastern state that borders Hong Kong. Chinese officials have released a series of threatening statements about Hong Kong's protesters, with one claiming 'terrorism' was emerging in the city on Monday after flights were cancelled Subscribe to Guardian News on YouTube"
You would hope the CCP government would want to avoid another tiananmen.
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Regardless of where my political sympathies are, I'd like to bring up another issue. The Chinese from HK have just invented a new tool of the political struggle, paralyzing airports en masse. Wishing them and the democracy well in principle, I really wouldn't like to see their followers using this tool elsewhere. What a mess could potentially arise... are we prepared?
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That part is a scary as what is about to happen to the young kids .There are also some very disturbing news about surveillance cameras with face recognition software being introduced in various public locations at the moment in Europe ( e.g. France and UK) . The future is not looking good folks ...
At HKIA now and just watched a young chap use a much lower tech device. He hung a red umbrella over the CCTV camera. Effective!
All staff at the airport have disappeared (22.20 local) and pax are hanging around waiting to see if any flights are going. Most check in desks are occupied by sleeping pax. Crews are reporting but it is up to HKIA to open the check in facilities before anything moves.
Still boisterous cheering coming from the various groups of demonstrators. I doubt anything will move for a couple of hours, if at all tonight.
All staff at the airport have disappeared (22.20 local) and pax are hanging around waiting to see if any flights are going. Most check in desks are occupied by sleeping pax. Crews are reporting but it is up to HKIA to open the check in facilities before anything moves.
Still boisterous cheering coming from the various groups of demonstrators. I doubt anything will move for a couple of hours, if at all tonight.
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Protests at the airport are not new to that part of the world. In the 70s and 80s the rising opposition to the then ruling KMT party in Taiwan used large scale street protests in major cities in Taiwan. Often blocking the railroad stations (sometimes even bringing rail traffic to a complete halt with thousands of people on the tracks. And the TPE airport was often brought to temporary closure as they blocked all access to the airport.
Taiwan riot police were very busy in those days with the infamous yellow riot control (essentially crash tenders) trucks in use everywhere.
These protests only ended when the opposition DPP party came to power. The current President of Taiwan is from the DPP and her party may currently be the majority in government.
The KMT controlled government of Taiwan in those days , under the direction of Chiang Ching Kuo (son of the late Generalissimo Chiang Kai shek) took a benign attitude and did not release the military on the rioters, which allowed the eventual ascension of the opposition party. IF the KMT had resorted to it's old ways (228 incident) many thousands would have died.
A lot of people were bloodied in those riots in Taiwan but if I recall correctly (I lived in Taiwan in those decades) nobody was killed although many rioters as well as riot control policemen were sent to the hospital.
I watched one early morning in Taipei in the late 70s as Taiwan riot police were practicing riot control and right behind them were the military with guns. But the military was never used (never made an appearance in any riots) and the riot police were ordered not to use violent force, other than the yellow water trucks and batons. Riot police never carried guns.
The problem is that the HK rioters are facing the CCP government of China. Which is a different animal entirely. The CCP faces dissent from Tibet and Mongolia, the problems with integration of HK and the Taiwan issue. They are likely to take a very heavy hand. They will not allow HK independence because to do so will be to allow TAiwan Independence as well as Tibet and Mongolia independence. The CCP will fight tooth and claw to retain it's control of China.
IF protests disrupt the society in HK to the point where the airport can not open and function and HK itself is brought to a standstill I can see the CCP government of China responding with force.
Taiwan riot police were very busy in those days with the infamous yellow riot control (essentially crash tenders) trucks in use everywhere.
These protests only ended when the opposition DPP party came to power. The current President of Taiwan is from the DPP and her party may currently be the majority in government.
The KMT controlled government of Taiwan in those days , under the direction of Chiang Ching Kuo (son of the late Generalissimo Chiang Kai shek) took a benign attitude and did not release the military on the rioters, which allowed the eventual ascension of the opposition party. IF the KMT had resorted to it's old ways (228 incident) many thousands would have died.
A lot of people were bloodied in those riots in Taiwan but if I recall correctly (I lived in Taiwan in those decades) nobody was killed although many rioters as well as riot control policemen were sent to the hospital.
I watched one early morning in Taipei in the late 70s as Taiwan riot police were practicing riot control and right behind them were the military with guns. But the military was never used (never made an appearance in any riots) and the riot police were ordered not to use violent force, other than the yellow water trucks and batons. Riot police never carried guns.
The problem is that the HK rioters are facing the CCP government of China. Which is a different animal entirely. The CCP faces dissent from Tibet and Mongolia, the problems with integration of HK and the Taiwan issue. They are likely to take a very heavy hand. They will not allow HK independence because to do so will be to allow TAiwan Independence as well as Tibet and Mongolia independence. The CCP will fight tooth and claw to retain it's control of China.
IF protests disrupt the society in HK to the point where the airport can not open and function and HK itself is brought to a standstill I can see the CCP government of China responding with force.
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Regardless of where my political sympathies are, I'd like to bring up another issue. The Chinese from HK have just invented a new tool of the political struggle, paralyzing airports en masse. Wishing them and the democracy well in principle, I really wouldn't like to see their followers using this tool elsewhere. What a mess could potentially arise... are we prepared?
Quite possibly, but I don't think that the protectors have considered that outcome
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BBC showing security staff inspecting passports and travel tickets outside the terminal today with a queuing system being implemented, so (in theory!) no protests in departures. Apparently a small number still in arrivals, however far fewer than yesterday.
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Better detail (including the dismissal-worthy photo) from the HongKongFreePress.
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Interesting point to ponder. Is it possible that Mainland China could send in 'agitators' to stir things up? - thereby giving them an excuse to 'restore' order. I just wonder the benefit of continuing the fracas. A bit of a David and Goliath situation. From the PRC's perspective it would cure the issue of having the HK thorn in their side. Would not be the first time 'disruptors' were sent in to stir things along to achieve a means to an end.
Conspiracy theory nightmare!. Ducks for Cover!
Conspiracy theory nightmare!. Ducks for Cover!
Interesting point to ponder. Is it possible that Mainland China could send in 'agitators' to stir things up? - thereby giving them an excuse to 'restore' order. I just wonder the benefit of continuing the fracas. A bit of a David and Goliath situation. From the PRC's perspective it would cure the issue of having the HK thorn in their side. Would not be the first time 'disruptors' were sent in to stir things along to achieve a means to an end.
Conspiracy theory nightmare!. Ducks for Cover!
Conspiracy theory nightmare!. Ducks for Cover!
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One image shows the "horse" defensive stance typically adapted by Chinese military juxtaposed with the different typical stance of HKP pre protest. Photos from the last week show same behaviour and stances between CM and HKP. Draw your own conclusions.
I frequently nightstopped in HK until late 2017. Sometimes 4 or 5 times a month. Scary to think thst people just like me could be hauled off to the mainland at the whim of the Chinese government.
Crews still flying there should be extremely careful. I'd honestly buy a burner phone and leave the laptop/iPad at home if going to HK.