Hong Kong airport announces special measures for rail services as protesters plan to block traffic

HONG KONG: The Hong Kong International Airport said on Saturday (Sep 21) it would limit its express train services amid protesters' plans to block traffic on Sunday.

Starting from 9am, airport-bound trains will skip Kowloon, Tsing Yi and AsiaWorld-Expo stations, and will only take passengers from Hong Kong station, said the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AA).

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City-bound trains will only stop at Hong Kong station and the city check-in service at Kowloon station will be suspended for the day, added AA.

The announcement came as Hong Kong faced another weekend of violent clashes between police and protesters.

READ: Hong Kong police fire tear gas to break up protesters in Tuen Mun

Police on Saturday fired tear gas to disperse protesters in the town of Tuen Mun, in the west of the New Territories, where some set fire to a Chinese flag as others tore down wooden and metal fences, and traffic bollards to build road blocks, at least one of which was set alight.

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Some smashed fittings at the Light Rail Transit station, dug up bricks and picked up stones from the sides of the tracks. Others turned fire extinguishers on the police, who made several arrests.

Earlier, dozens of Beijing supporters tore down the "Lennon Walls", made up of large mosaics of colourful Post-it notes calling for democracy and denouncing perceived Chinese meddling in the former British colony, which returned to Chinese rule in 1997.

READ: Hong Kong's summer of protests leaves economy bruised and battered

Authorities said they have begun controlling access into HKIA's terminal buildings.

"Only bona fide passengers with a valid air ticket or boarding pass for a flight in the next 24 hours and a valid travel document will be allowed to enter the te