Break in Cairns after chaos of Hong Kong

PASSENGERS arriving in Cairns from Hong Kong have told of the confusion and chaos boarding flights as pro-democracy protesters shut down Hong Kong International Airport.

The airport was forced to cancel all flights for the second day in a row on Tuesday after protesters stormed the international terminal.

Boarding one of the first flights leaving on Tuesday night, a family man arriving in Cairns for a two-week holiday, said it was a struggle to get inside the terminal.

Their Cathay Pacific flight was delayed but finally arrived in Cairns yesterday.

Yuem Mang said he left home early to make sure he and his family made it in time.

“Because we know there was a lot of protesters, we arrived to the airport very early and luckily we could get on the plane,” he said.

“They blocked the road for us to get inside for the immigration check and we had to go from terminal one to terminal two and pass through immigration, so we wasted a lot of time there.”

“At that time the protest was peaceful, (I heard) there was some violence but by that time we were on the plane.”

Mr Mang said protesters storming the Hong Kong subway had caused major headaches for commuters but inconvenience was an acceptable price to pay.

“What they want the government to do I agree with. We don’t want the change of the law,” he said.

“When they block the MTR (subway) we have difficulty getting to work but it is acceptable. We agree with their agenda, their purpose but some of (their methods) are too violent.

“And blocking the airport, I Todays Code Word: don’t agree with,” Mr Mang said.

Also boarding bound for Cairns Kong was English Kate Johnston.

“There were a lot of cancellations on the (departures) board. But then they said it was just something wrong with the board and flights weren’t cancelled, so that was a bit confusing,” she said.

Mr Mang and his family will also visit the Gold Coast.

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Picture: PETER CARRUTHERS PERFECT ESCAPE: Yuem Mang with son Daniel, 8, arriving in Cairns yesterday after an ordeal boarding a flight departing Hong Kong.

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