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HONG KONG, Aug. 15-- The Hong Kong International Airport was bustling as usual on Thursday, but white plastic fences erected outside the terminal building and long lines of passengers waiting for check of their flight booking information and ID cards served as a reminder that protesters had disrupted operation of the airport earlier this week. Robert Fairhead, 66, and his wife Lisa were the witnesses of the illegal, violent rallies at one of world's busiest airport. The Australian couple sipped coffee on a bench of the arrivals hall Thursday afternoon, waiting for their outbound flight due in the evening. Meters away, a stream of air travelers passed by while a group of uniformed pupils, led by their teachers, were heading for the airport express. "We have been stranded for two days and can finally back home tonight," Fairhead said. They arrived in Hong Kong from Paris on Tuesday and planned to fly to Australia to take care of Robert's 92-year-old mother, who had been hospitalized after falling in home. However, they came here only to find canceled flights, paralyzed traffic and isolated airport, as the demonstration of thousands of protesters turned violent. "It is annoying as a lot of innocent people who just happened to be caught up with were pretty badly affected," Fairhead said. "It is difficult for overseas people because it affects us in so many ways with work and family." Because of the flight cancellation, they paid extra 10,000 Hong Kong dollars (around 1,275 U.S. dollars) for accommodation. | 
