Hundreds of Hong Kong protesters were joined by airport staff and flight attendants at the arrival hall on Friday to hold a sit-in and "educate" visitors about the ongoing demonstrations, according to The Guardian.
All arriving visitors were greeted with a full arrival hall of protesters chanting anti-government slogans while handing out flyers that described some of the conditions facing the protesters.
The protests began several weeks ago over a controversial extradition bill that would have allowed Hong Kong citizens, tourists, and even journalists to be sent to mainland China after they were arrested, but they have since grown into widespread protests calling for democratic reforms.
Organizers said they planned the airport protest as a way of greeting tourists and arrivals to inform them of the protests, particularly targeting visitors from mainland China where the news is state-controlled and has been heavily censored concerning the protests, often painting them as a foreign-funded plot to destabilize Beijing.
AFP said one creative group of protesters even made their own airline safety announcement video they played on a television for the new arrivals.
"Kindly put on your masks and black t-shirts... when attending the assemblies," the video said, noting how the protesters have taken to wearing all black during their marches across the city.
Others held signs that warned about police firing tear gas at peaceful protesters ad the pro-government gangs which attacked demonstrators at a popular mall, putting 45 in the hospital.
Meryl Yeung, a 29-year-old flight attendant, said she joined the protest after getting off a flight since: "It's important to come to the airport and tell foreigners what's happening in Hong Kong."
"They have no idea at all, they only get information from one side, they think everyone... coming to a protest, to a rally, are all rioters, or promoting Hong Kong independence," she said of people arriving from mainland China.
Cathay Pacific's Flight Attendants Union said it was supportive of the rally and encouraged members to join in the protest.
"We feel deep regret with the incapability of our (chief executive) Carrie Lam and her team that only play tricks to fool its people," the union said in a message on Facebook, referencing the city's unelected leader.
"We aim to demonstrate (in) a peaceful manner and take the time to tell the people from all over the world... what has been happening lately in Hong Kong," it wrote.
Demonstrators also claimed the government and the police were working with the triads who conducted the attacks earlier this week in order to suppress the continued protest.s
Demonstrators are planning another protest for tomorrow at Yuen Long, where last week's triad attacks took place, even though there is a police ban against mass gatherings in effect.
Organizers filed an appeal to overturn that decision, but instead called on local residents to come with them "for a walk" to help "stimulate the Yuen Long economy.”
A growing number of activists, opposition lawmakers, and residents are calling on Hong Kong to conduct an independent investigation into why police took more than 30-minutes to respond to emergency calls at the mall on Sunday.
More than 400 public servants from 44 departments have signed a letter threatening “concrete industrial actions” if the government continues to ignore public demands about the investigation.
Dozens of conductors who work on the metro line where last week's attack took place said they were also threatening "further actions" if the investigation did not move forward.
-WN.com, Maureen Foody