The Hong Kong International Airport on Friday is an area that is now targeted by the protesters for their next major demonstration, but this time they have 5 demands. According to an article on CNBC by Grace Shao, thousands of protesters are expected to rally at this major international hub but note that these protests that started in June, and were very peaceful, are now accelerating to a wider, pro-democracy movement – sometimes violent. Airport authorities said only departing passengers with travel documents will be allowed to enter Terminal 1 on Friday morning, as the airport braces for what protesters are saying will be a three-day event.
Officials confirmed that the police commander who dealt with the 2014 demonstrations has been recalled to help settle this ongoing and sometimes violent protest. The protest started in June when a bill designed to allow Hong Kong leaders to extradite HK citizens to Beijing – this triggered the massive waves of anger in the former British colony. The discontent from protesters is beyond politics as the general population has made it clear that they need better living conditions in what is known as one of the most expensive real estate markets in Asia and the world. There has been wide spread anxiety in Hong Kong among the ordinary working class, and this was reflected by guests on CNBC. The US has raised warnings for travelers to Hong Kong and in turn the Chinese air carriers China Air has cancelled trips to Hawaii. The Beijing Honolulu flight was one of the more popular flights to the Pacific.