Hong Kong, Aug 5 (TIWN) Hong Kong was gripped by commuter chaos as a paralyzing citywide strike, part of the escalating anti-government protests, disrupted train services during morning rush hour and forced airport authorities to cancel 230 flights on Monday amid disruption fears.

 Delays affected the Mass Transit Railway (MTR) as scuffles broke out on Monday between commuters and activists, who held open the doors to stop trains leaving. Several MTR lines were also suspended.  Air traffic controllers called in "sick en masse", echoing the actions of an estimated 500,000 Hongkongers from more than 20 business sectors, the South China Morning Post reported.  The number of flights that could take off, or land, were affected as a result, and authorities said only one of the two runways would be in operation till 6 a.m. on Tuesday.  Flights around Asia bore the brunt of the cancellations, the report said. 

Most of the cancelled flights were with local carriers Cathay Pacific and Hong Kong Airlines. Besides these airlines, Cathay Dragon and HK Express also advised passengers to check before they travelled to the airport on Monday.  One video circulating on Twitter reportedly showed a car in the district of Yuen Long forcefully hitting a barricade set up by protesters, injuring one person, according to the BBC. 

The strike is part of the protests that have rocked the city for more than two months, with protesters demanding full withdrawal of a now-shelved extradition bill that would have allowed extradition to mainland China.  But these demonstrations have evolved into a catch-all movement against the local government and are causing disruptions. The protesters are now demanding an independent inquiry into the police violence, resignation of the territory''s Chief Executive Carrie Lam and democratic reform.