:D!

If it is possible to run, why not? Kennedy and HKU are interchange points for buses from the south/southwest (at least if the buses are running).

The notices do not say Central (Island line) is closed.

Also, it is not possible for Island line trains to reverse at North Point - they at least have to go past Causeway Bay before they can reverse, unless there is so much damage they can only run a barebones service with one unit on one track (that would have 30 min headways). While I do not know any details of MTR's contingency planning, possibly it is simpler just to run the regular service and skip stops, than to create an amended timetable.

With that in mind, I wonder if the journey time is much faster with the stop skipping, or whether the trains slow down/stop at the closed stations without opening doors?

889

"A member of the government’s top advisory body has said the authorities would not rule out internet controls in order to curb the ongoing protests. . . .

"Ip Kwok-him, a member of the Executive Council, said during a Commercial Radio programme on Monday [today] that the government will observe whether the new law [banning masks] will halt the protests.

“'At this stage, the government will consider all legal means to stop the riots,' he said. 'We would not rule out a ban on the internet.'”

https://www.hongkongfp.com/2019/10/0...visor-ip-kwok/

percysmith

And NxxxVPN subscriptions from HK goes way up...

889

He didn't talk about banning just some sites. He talked about banning the internet. If you can't get internet service you can't use a VPN. It's a scorched earth approach.

tentseller

If other FTers doesn't hear anything from us Hong Konger then you know the internet has been shut down in HK.

Better dig out that modem!

TA

How would banning "the internet" help? There's already tons of stories about people using P2P / bluetooth ad-hoc (?) networks that don't require cellular, or any such globabally connected capability, right?

889

You still ultimately need a network connection somewhere. If the Government tells HKBN et al. to halt broadband service and PCCW et al. to halt mobile data service, your bluetooth connection isn't going to get you anywhere.

kevincrumbs

You have a very similar situation to ours, except that our trip stars in late November and unfortunately we're in Y the whole way. I am leaning towards taking our flights because cancelling them and getting a credit on AA doesn't seem worthwhile and if things on the ground don't change for the better by the beginning of November, we'll probably just use HKG as a connecting point and head to TPE instead.

Sadly, our sunk cost includes a non-refundable booking for a six night hotel stay

joe_miami

I’m flying HEL-HKG next Thursday. My plan was to start my trip in Hong Kong and then Macau, and then work my way west to catch my BKK-HEL return flight. This will be my first time at HKG.

Obviously, the situation in Hong Kong is fluid, and things can change while I’m on the long HEL-HKG flight (possibly without internet).

If I want to land in HKG, then spend an hour or two in a lounge to re-evaluate the situation (preferably before clearing immigration), what are my options? Thanks very much.

MSPeconomist

Instead of spending several days in an airport hotel, wouldn't it be better to take the ferry from HKG airport directly to Macau for just a couple days?

It's too bad that the Kowloon airport express station is closed as you could use airport express train and their hotel shuttles to a well located hotel in Kowloon and then basically just walk to stuff to do on the Kowloon side. You wouldn't see all of Hong Kong this way, but it would be a way to avoid the hassles of closed MTR stations/lines and trying to get around by taxi.

Alternatively or you've scheduled more than one Hong Kong "layover" you might try a hotel within walking distance of the airport express central station and again focus on doing stuff within walking distance (including using the escalator as I haven't heard of it being closed due to protests).

downinit

Thanks for the information. I guess closing Sunny Bay and the DL train is just a precaution against a hypothetical protest. I was afraid that a bus would drop off at Sunny Bay, but the R8 goes all the way to the resort. It does seem like a risk at the end of the night. Even if the park is mostly empty, there should still be more than enough people competing for space on a bus when the park closes at 20:00. A visit to HKDL was my main motive in going back to HK, but I really want to try out one of the IC's, especially at US $150-200/night. Staying at a Disney hotel for HKD 1300 is tempting, but 3 nights would be excessive and boring. Plus, I really hate the thought of needing to change hotels on a 3 night visit.

Visconti

Well, given my last few tweets since last night, will clearly need a new throw away phone. Given the recent rumblings, roughly what odds would you guys speculate on the HK Gov't temporarily blacking out net access during the next couple of weeks?

889

A complete block on internet access would be extraordinary. I cannot imagine the reaction in HK and overseas.

I could more possibly see shutting down mobile data/phone in the evenings in certain areas. But even that has so many aspects to it that it's hard to consider it realistic.

Which is to say that it in the short run I don't think it is practically on the table. Not to say it is impossible, though.

helvetic

The escalators are not closed (nor have they been a target) due to protests, but they have been slowly upgrading them and so one of the stretches needs to be walked by foot. It was supposed to be finished mid-Sept but last time I was there it was still not re-opened. Once they finish that one, they'll be closing another stretch for a renovation.


Plenty of things to see on the island. If you go to the escalators, stop by Tai Kwun!

889

On Friday night, a Guangzhou-bound through train was attacked at Fanling, with many windows on the train broken. Through train service to the Mainland has been suspended for now.

This attack, which wasn't reported in the main media till today Tuesday, is I believe the first time ordinary travellers in Hong Kong have been at risk from the disturbances, though there were no reports of injuries.

In any event, those travelling by rail to or from the Mainland should now certainly use HSR, which travels underground to Shenzhen.