“The world has been watching us in the past few weeks,” said Jeremy Tam, a former pilot and lawmaker who helped organize the rally with other aviation sector employees.
“We simply believe that the airport is the most direct way for all tourists to explain what is happening in Hong Kong.”
Tam read out an open letter from aviation employees saying they “felt furious” at “the pointless, non-constructive and sometimes misleading comments” given by senior government officials.
He said if the government did not respond to protester demands, “we do not rule out taking further actions such as (an) uncooperative movement”.
An impromptu “tourist information” booth was set up by the protesters, with pictures and captions detailing the allegations of police brutality and the Yuen Long train station attack.
Some condemned the failure of police to protect citizens and protesters despite a flood of emergency calls.
“I think Hong Kong is a clean and safe city. The protest hasn’t changed my idea of Hong Kong,” said Sebastian Vanneste, 22, a tourist from New Zealand.
“I didn’t know about the police brutality … As a tourist, I respect Hong Kong people’s freedom of speech and assembly.”
Others, including tourists and pilots, flight attendants and other aviation workers, signed a petition urging the government to prosecute the attackers.
An application for a protest on Saturday in Yuen Long was rejected by police, but a sizeable turnout is still expected amid fears of clashes between triads and activists.
Singapore urged its citizens in a travel advisory to avoid parts of Hong Kong where protests may be taking place, noting the airport demonstration.
“You should take all necessary precautions to ensure your personal safety,” it read. “Protests which are meant to be peaceful may still have the potential to turn violent with little or no notice.”
The Flight Attendants’ Union for Hong Kong’s main carrier Cathay Pacific had earlier urged its members to “stand up for our human rights and be connected with the rest of the HongKongers” on its Facebook page.
“United Hong Kong Stands!” it added.
An investment banker at a U.S. bank told Reuters he had rescheduled his flight from Hong Kong to Beijing to another day, over concerns flights could be grounded.
