Thread by @rhokilpatrick

Just 15 minutes into the “Stuck with You” pressure test protest at Hong Kong International Airport and there are already several hundred #antiELAB protesters gathered outside at the airport bus terminus. These things tend not to get serious until a few hours after the start time.

Additional security measures put into place after protesters occupied the airport last month mean they can’t enter the terminal building. Access into the airport is constricted to a few chikepoints, but there is already a heavy police presence in and around HKIA. #HKprotests

Airport Express services have already been terminated and protesters are marching over from Tung Chung. Meanwhile inside the terminal police are stockpiling crowd control gear.

(Pic via Telegram)

Police roadblock on the North Lantau Highway and traffic clogging up the Tsing Ma Bridge toll plaza.

(Pics via Telegram)

Protesters requisitioning water barriers to block traffic.

Protesters have moved upstairs to outside the second level.

Roadblocks are up at the bus terminus and police are amassing inside the airport and outside departures.

The atmosphere is getting tense at the bus terminus exit, with protesters banging and shouting slogans. Police have closed the exit and are standing ready on the over side of the metal gates.

Barrier of luggage trollies erected at exit to impede any potential police charge.

Further barricades go up under the watchful eyes of police inside the terminal.

More trollies used to block staircase. Fully geared ruot police stand at the top.

The barricade blocking the main exit to the busterminus, meanwhile, has grown considerably. Protesters are now disabling CCTV cameras outside.

Pandemonium as riot police close in.

After cobbling together new barricades and wetting the road surface, frontline protesters are getting geared up for a serious confrontation with riot police.

A new defence: pebbles from garden features litter the ground to impede a police charge.

Frustrated flyers stand trapped on both sides of the exits as the airport goes into complete lockdown.

Protesters plead with those still waiting in the taxi queue to flee before any tear gas is fired.

The exodus to Tung Chung begins.

“You can scrub away our words, but you can’t scrub away the truth.”

Protesters have regrouped to completely cut off road access to the airport as they continue their long march back to Tung Chung.

This calligraphy though.

HKIA has reportedly been shut down completely again. Most protesters are slowly moving down the road to Tung Chung but others are staying behind to hold their position.

Many but not all flights have been cancelled. All protesters are now drawing back as pilice vehicles amass on the tarmac on the other side of the airport’s fences.

Around one hundred riot police are moving down Airport Road toward protesters.

The national flag outside Aviation City lies in tatters on the road. Chinese state media are going to have a field day with this one.

Loving these beautiful renditions of the composite characters created by the #antiELAB movement: 黑警 (crooked cops), 暴政 (tyranny), 港人 (Hongkongers)...

First arrest on Airport Rd.

Tung Chung MTR station has been closed, trapping retreating protesters.

Stranded protesters making a run for it as riot police advance. Frontliners are guarding the rear to but them more time to get away.

People are running for dear life to escape the now-closed Tung Chung MTR station before police arrive.

These displays celebrating the upcoming anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China have been completely annihilated.

Moses. Exodus. The “parting of the Red Sea”. And now a great flood. It’s been a werkend of truly biblical proportions.

Marchinh down the side of the North Lantau Highway with hundreds of protesters, cars beeping to the tune of “Hongkongers add oil!” as they inch along beside us.

Step one: liberate Hong Kong
Step two: liberate Zhuhai and Macau

Along the North Lantau Highway, a line of private vehicles offering rides to protesters. We’ve been on the road for over two hours now.

With police lying in wait to ambush them at ferry piers all around the city, protesters are warning eachother to change and dump their gear. The highway is lined with abandoned helmets and gloves and protesters holding umbrellas for each other to change clothes under.

Protesters have stopped short of the Tsing Ma Brdge toll plaza where police vehicles could easily be waiting for me. At this on ramp to the expressway, they’re ditching their gear en masse and boarding buses and private cars that will tale them across the bridge.

More and more private cars offering lifts to protesters like it’s Operation Dynamo over there.

Except tonight in Hong Kong it’s called Operation #Backhome. Hundreds of driving are offering their protesters changes of clothes and food and drink as well as safe passage home. This is so heartwarming, easily worth the three-hour walk from the airport.

Look at this fleet of supports and kind-hearted strangers trying to get protesters out of the Tsing Ma Bridge toll plaza and #backhome safe.

Everyone here is calling it “Hong Kong’s Dunkirk”