No Trains If Protests Go Off The Rails, MTR Warns

The MTR Corporation says from now on it may stop sending empty trains to pick up stranded passengers if there are fights or violence inside stations, citing safety concerns.

The announcement came hours after mainland media criticised the rail operator, saying their special train arrangements were helping protesters.

The People's Daily said MTR seems to be aiding violent protesters by giving them free ride. In a Weibo post later, state-run CCTV also criticised the rail operator about the special train arrangements.

On Wednesday night, MTR had run special trains from Yuen Long station after a protest there which led to a tense stand-off, during which some people removed rubbish bins and other objects to barricade the entrances while police were outside.

The scenes followed a larger, peaceful, demonstration against the police for their handling of the incident at the station a month earlier, when a mob of suspected gangsters attacked people with wooden sticks and steel bars.

In a statement, the rail firm said some of the station's facilities were damaged and it condemned such irresponsible acts.

It said under emergency situations, train services at the stations concerned may be immediately stopped, and police may enter to take enforcement action.