Hong Kong airport suspends all check-ins

HONG KONG, China (Updated 6:43 p.m.) — Hong Kong airport authorities on Tuesday suspended all check-ins, but reversed a previous statement saying that all departing flights had been canceled as pro-democracy protesters blocked the facility.

"Terminal operations at Hong Kong International Airport have been seriously disrupted, and all check-in processes have now been suspended," a statement on the airport website said.

"All passengers are advised to leave the terminal buildings as soon as possible."

The statement did not clarify how many flights would be canceled and whether arriving flights would be affected by the decision.

The statement walked back a previous announcement that said all departing flights had been canceled.

The decision came after thousands of pro-democracy protesters flooded into the airport for the second consecutive day and blocked passengers from reaching entrances to the departure area in both terminals.

It came a day after authorities announced the unprecedented complete cancelation of all arriving and departing flights over a massive rally.