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Monday, August 19, 2019, 09:27
Acute traffic woes as HK protesters block key roads
By chinadailyhk.com
Monday, August 19, 2019, 09:27 By chinadailyhk.com

A passenger bus remains stuck as hundreds of protesters march blocking a street on Hong Kong Island, causing acute traffic congestion Aug 18, 2019. (PHOTO / CHINA DAILY)

HONG KONG – Blockage of several main roads by protesters Sunday afternoon led to serious traffic congestion and near paralysis of the transportation system on the Hong Kong Island.

The protesters, who were participants of a public meeting at Victoria Park, Hong Kong Island on the eleventh consecutive weekend of unrest, marched out of authorized area around 3 pm, occupying various main roads that connect the densely-populated commercial and tourism districts.

This snarled vehicular movement. 

More than 100 bus routes had to be either suspended or diverted, including most of the routes linking Kowloon and Hong Kong Island via the Cross-Harbor Tunnel. 

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Unlawful protesters set up road blocks at Harcourt Road, Admiralty, Hong Kong Island, on the night of Aug 18, 2019. (PHOTO / CHINA DAILY)

Taxies generally avoided the affected areas on Hong Kong Island, or risked being stuck in the congestion for a long time.

Metro services on Hong Kong Island were also partially affected Sunday afternoon. Trains along the Island Line temporarily stopped serving a few stations, in areas where there were crowds of black-clad protesters. 

As bus, metro and taxi services all affected, commuters were left with very few options other than spending a couple of more hours than usual to get to their destinations. 

Protesters march blocking a street on Hong Kong Island, causing acute traffic congestion as they continued their demonstration against the now-suspended extradition bill, Aug 18, 2019. (PHOTO / CHINA DAILY)

Taxi driver Tso Tag-ming said he felt helpless about Sunday’s situation. 

Blocking the main roads made it incredibly difficult to go everywhere on Hong Kong Island. All the taxis were compelled to drive on the inner streets, which were too narrow and also jammed with other vehicles, he said. 

His income was only a third of what it used to be, said Tso.

"We taxi drivers are very apprehensive and find it a real headache, because we never know when and where the protesters will occupy roads again," said a visibly frustrated Tso. 

The taxi industry has been a major victim of the illegal protests and rampant vandalism, he noted. Some drivers who tried to reason with the protesters suffered greater damage, as a mob would soon surround the driver and vandalized the taxi. 

In such cases, so far the drivers themselves had to deal with the cost for repairing or replacing the damaged taxi.

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