Hong Kong’s railway operator was… hit with a legal challenge against its suspension of services… which allegedly left anti-government protesters stranded on the streets, resulting in disturbances.

Kwok Cheuk-kin, a former civil servant known for bringing challenges against the authorities… filed the application for a judicial review against the MTR Corporation at the High Court. Referring to violent clashes in east Kowloon last week, he said: “All of that was caused by the MTR Corporation.”…

Kwok’s court filing said the suspended train services left protesters with no means of leaving. Police officers had to take action because the crowd was building up, he suggested. So it caused tension to escalate, resulting in the clashes, he said. He asked the court to find that “the MTR Corporation should bear the consequences of the two disturbances”.

Speaking outside court, Kwok criticised the corporation for, as he saw it, not placing its trust in the court. Last week the operator sought an injunction order barring protesters from besieging stations, as it became increasingly embroiled in the political crisis. Kwok said that, with the injunction order, it would be unnecessary for the MTR Corp to suspend services…

An MTR Corp spokesman said it had no comment on the case.

Protesters have complained that the rail giant turned a blind eye to unnecessary police force inside station, and allowed alleged gang members to attack them… at a station in Yuen Long…