HONG KONG – Thousands of Hong Kong protesters on Sunday sang the Star-Spangled Banner and called on US President Donald Trump to “liberate” the Chinese-ruled city, the latest in a series of demonstrations that have gripped the territory for months.
Police stood by as protesters, under a sea of umbrellas against the sub-tropical sun, waved the Stars and Stripes and placards appealing for democracy after another night of violence in the 14th week of unrest.
“Fight for freedom, stand with Hong Kong,” they shouted before handing over petitions at the US Consulate. “Resist Beijing, liberate Hong Kong.”
US Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Saturday urged China to exercise restraint in Hong Kong, a former British colony which returned to Chinese rule in 1997.
Esper made his call in Paris as police in Hong Kong prevented protesters from blocking access to the airport but fired tear gas for a second night running in the densely populated district of Mong Kok.
Last month Trump suggested China should “humanely” settle the problem in Hong Kong before a trade deal is reached with Washington. Earlier Trump called the protests “riots” that were a matter for China to deal with.
Sunday’s protest was peaceful, compared with some rallies that have turned violent in recent weeks, with police responding with at times water cannon, rubber bullets and tear gas. Riot police stood their lines in a standoff in the Central MTR station, near Sunday’s march, where several protesters were detained.
“With the US locked in a trade war with China at this point in time, it’s a good opportunity for us to show (the United States) how the pro-China groups are also violating human rights in Hong Kong and allowing police brutality,” said Cherry, 26, who works in the financial industry, as protesters marched towards the nearby US Consulate.
“We want the US administration to help protect human rights in Hong Kong.”
While there have always been a handful of protesters waving US national flags in recent months, today’s march from the US consulate looks to be the most red, white and blue protest that Hong Kong has seen pic.twitter.com/a3cyl6X5St
— Aaron Mc Nicholas (@aaronMCN) September 8, 2019
Hong Kong returned to China under a “one country, two systems” formula that guarantees freedoms not enjoyed on the mainland. Many Hong Kong residents fear Beijing is eroding that autonomy.
“FOMENTING UNREST”
China denies the accusation of meddling and says Hong Kong is an internal affair. It has denounced the protests, accusing the United States and Britain of fomenting unrest, and warned of the damage to the economy.
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam announced concessions this week aimed at ending the protests, including formally scrapping a hugely unpopular extradition bill, which ignited the unrest in June. Many protesters said it was too little, too late.
The bill would have allowed the extradition of people to mainland China to stand trial in courts controlled by the Communist Party. Hong Kong has an independent judiciary dating back to British rule.
But the demonstrations have long since broadened into calls for more democracy and many protesters have pledged to fight on.
US legislation addressing China’s actions in Hong Kong will be among the top priorities pushed by Senate Democrats when Congress returns to work after a recess next week, their leader, Senator Chuck Schumer, said on Thursday.
Schumer urged Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican who sets the floor agenda, to bring up a bipartisan bill that would require an annual justification of the special treatment afforded by Washington to Hong Kong, including special trade and business privileges, under the US Hong Kong Policy Act of 1992.
The legislation, called the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, would also mandate that officials in China and Hong Kong who have undermined the city’s autonomy are vulnerable to sanctions.
Protesters, in their petition, urged that it be passed in full.
Trump alternates between praising Chinese President Xi Jinping as a great leader and casting him as an enemy while excoriating China for taking advantage of US businesses.
Beijing announced that top officials would head to Washington in early October to hold talks aimed at ending a tit-for-tat trade war, now in its second year, which has roiled markets and hammered global growth.
LIVE: Hong Kong protesters march to U.S. Consulate General https://t.co/YFU19iZTCQ
— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) September 8, 2019
In other news – Mugabe’s Body expected back in Zimbabwe on Wednesday
The body of the late former Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe is expected back on Wednesday. Zanu-PF spokesperson Nick Mangwana quoted Mugabe‘s nephew saying that plane the will transport him is expected to leave on Monday.
The 95-year-old former president died in a Singapore hospital on Friday.
It is still unclear when the funeral will take place. Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa granted Mugabe the status of a national hero in a televised address on Friday, while tributes poured in from leaders from across the continent. continue reading
Source: News365
