With transport in disarray as masked radicals prevented from entering the airport by a court injunction went on the rampage outside the terminal building, desperate travellers arriving in Hong Kong were forced to walk on the main road, lugging their suitcases all the way to Tung Chung and then onto the North Lantau Highway to Sunny Bay.

The distance from the airport to Tung Chung is about 5km (3 miles), while Sunny Bay is a further 13km (8 miles) away from the town.

Alongside these travellers were blackshirted protesters who had earlier caused mayhem outside the airport. Others managed to get onto airport buses that were leaving, but were now stuck on the Tsing Ma Bridge.

The government late on Sunday issued a statement severely condemning the vandalism and illegal acts of the protesters.