HONG KONG CITY 13 Aug (ANA) - Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam has warned anti-government protesters not to push the city into an "abyss", in an emotional press conference on Tuesday.

 

Ms Lam said Hong Kong had "reached [a] dangerous situation" and that violence during protests would push it "down a path of no return".

 

She was met with hostility as she dodged questions by reporters, who repeatedly shouted and cut her off.

 

Meanwhile protests are continuing for a fifth day at the city's busy airport.

 

Mass unrest has rocked Hong Kong for 10 weeks and shows no signs of abating.

 

Large protests started in response to a proposed extradition bill, which has now been suspended, but have evolved into a more demanding pro-democracy movement.

 

Protests are fuelled by fear that the freedoms Hong Kong enjoys as a special administrative region of China are being eroded.

 

Ms Lam's comments came a day after hundreds of flights had to be cancelled when thousands occupied the city's international airport. Dozens more have been cancelled on Tuesday, as demonstrators continue to gather.

 

Authorities said on Tuesday that operations have resumed, but warned flights would still be affected.

 

Flagship carrier Cathay Pacific said it had cancelled more than 200 inbound and outbound flights, and would run only a limited number for connecting passengers.(ANA)

FA/ANA/13 August 2019-------