Hong Kong Protests: A day of grief coming on Tuesday?

While the Hong Kong Tourism Board continues to assure visitors in Hong Kong are staying clear away from now more violent protesters in the city, protesters and police clashed in Hong Kong for a second straight day on Sunday, throwing the city’s business and shopping belt into chaos and sparking fears of more ugly scenes leading up to China’s National Day this week.

Riot police repeatedly fired blue liquid — used to identify protesters — from a water cannon truck and multiple volleys of tear gas after demonstrators hurled Molotov cocktails at officers and targeted the government office complex. It was a repeat of Saturday’s clashes and part of a familiar cycle since pro-democracy protests began in early June.

Protesters are planning to march again on Tuesday despite a police ban, raising fears of more violent confrontations that could embarrass Chinese President Xi Jinping as his ruling Communist Party marks 70 years since taking power on Tuesday. Protesters are calling for October 1 to be marked as “A Day of Grief.”

The message from protesters: Freedom and democracy are universal values. Thank you for supporting Hong Kong fight for freedom and democracy as well as against totalitarianism.

Air travelers are urged to arrive at the airport 3 hours prior and visit https://www.hongkongairport.com/en/ to find out about the traffic situation to get to HKG.