Police in riot gear clash with protesters at Hong Kong airport

HONG KONG - A clash between protesters and police in riot gear and armed with pepper spray erupted in Hong Kong's main airport terminal on Tuesday, leaving at least one person injured.

Video showed officers attempting to clear out the crowd at Hong Kong International Airport as the protesters chanted. Not long after the intense altercation began, most of the protesters had left the airport and police had pulled back.

Several demonstrators were arrested during the violent confrontation. The Hong Police Force said in a tweet that at least one person was injured and required immediate medical attention but protesters were blocking ambulance access.

Video from inside the terminal showed a large crowd gathered around someone who appeared to have been injured.

Demonstrators have been in the departure hall of the airport for the past several days. Tuesday's incident was the first time police had moved in on protesters to clear the terminal.

Protesters have been in the streets for months now, after initially opposing a bill to create an extradition treaty with the neighboring People's Republic of China. Critics of the bill said Hong Kong residents, who enjoy freedom and liberties not available to their neighbors in China, could be swept up in that nation's murky judicial system.

Even after the bill was removed from consideration by Hong Kong's chief executive, Carrie Lam, protesters have not relented. They've called for Lam's resignation and greater democratic freedoms.

The Chinese central government said in a statement Tuesday that it "firmly supports" Lam.

Earlier Tuesday, the airport announced that all check-in services for departing flights would be shut down. Check-in services were also suspended Monday.

"Terminal operations at Hong Kong International Airport have been seriously disrupted as a result of the public assembly at the airport today," the airport announced in a statement sent to reporters on Tuesday.

All check-in service for departure flights have been suspended since 4:30 p.m. (4:30 a.m. ET), the airport authority added advising people not to come to the airport.

President Donald Trump called the protests in Hong Kong was a "very tough situation" and he "hopes it works out for everybody."

The former British colony was handed back to mainland China in 1997, under the so-called “one country, two systems” framework that would allow Hong Kong residents to retain civil liberties for at least 50 years.

But Hong Kong residents do not directly elect their chief executive and they’ve been increasingly frustrated with Beijing’s opposition to full suffrage.

Paul Goldman reported from Hong Kong, Minyvonne Burke from New York.

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