Hong Kong airport cancels Monday flights amid sit-in protest

* Authorities say they are suspending departing and arriving flights after thousands of protesters enter arrivals halls.

Hong Kong airport has suspended all the remaining flights for Monday due to the ongoing pro-democracy protest in its terminal, according to airport authorities.

Authorities said they were suspending departing and arriving flights at one of the world’s busiest travel hubs after thousands of protesters entered the arrivals halls to stage a demonstration.

“Other than the departure flights that have completed the check-in process and the arrival flights that are already heading to Hong Kong, all other flights have been cancelled for the rest of today,” the airport authority said in a statement.

Traffic on roads to the airport was very congested and car park spaces were full, the authority said.

Increasingly restive protests for over two months have plunged Hong Kong into its most serious political crisis in decades and presented a serious challenge to Beijing.

The protests, which started over a controversial extradition bill, expanded into wider calls for democratic reforms and an independent inquiry into police conduct during the demonstrations.

The protest movement’s demands also include the resignation of the Chinese territory’s leader Carrie Lam and an election for her successor.

Hong Kong, a former British colony, was returned to China in 1997 under a “one country, two systems” principle.