HONG KONG, China (AFP) – Washington yesterday warned US citizens to “exercise increased caution” when travelling to Hong Kong, as protesters announced three days of new demonstrations at the city’s airport.
The financial hub has been rocked by two months of unrest, initially triggered by opposition to a planned law that would have allowed extraditions to mainland China.
The demonstrations have evolved into a wider movement for democratic reform that has seriously disrupted the city with sometimes violent protests.
The US State Department warned citizens to “exercise increased caution,” upgrading its previous advice to “exercise normal precautions”.
The warning notes that demonstrations in the city have been mostly peaceful “but some have turned confrontational or resulted in violent clashes.”
“These demonstrations, which can take place with little or no notice, are likely to continue,” the advice adds.
The US warning comes after countries, including Australia, Britain, Ireland, Singapore, and Japan, issued heightened travel warnings for Hong Kong.
Images of clashes between masked protesters and police firing tear gas in Hong Kong’s streets have made global headlines, and on Tuesday China gave its sternest warning yet to the pro-democracy demonstrators.
But the protests are expected to continue, with demonstrators planning three days of rallies at the city’s airport from yesterday afternoon.
Last Monday, a general strike called by protesters saw more than 160 flights cancelled and transport in the city paralyzed.
