Hong Kong’s government warned the US to stay out of its affairs on Monday after thousands of protesters urged President Trump to “liberate” the China-ruled city and called on Congress to pass a bill that would allow Chinese and Hong Kong officials to be slapped with economic sanctions.
It blasted the crowds who sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” as they marched to the US Consulate on Sunday as the “illegal behavior of radical protesters” and cautioned that “foreign legislatures should not interfere in any form in the internal affairs” of Hong Kong.
The throngs of protesters appealed to Trump to “stand with Hong Kong” and “liberate Hong Kong” and make sure that Congress pass the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019.
The bill, which was introduced by a bipartisan group of lawmakers in June, would impose economic sanctions and other penalties on Chinese and Hong Kong officials who suppress democracy and human rights.
Meanwhile, students wearing masks formed human chains outside schools in Hong Kong in solidarity with the protesters after another weekend of unrest.
A protester shows a poster of U.S. President Donald TrumpAPThe peaceful march to the US Consulate later turned violent when crowds in the city’s business district busted windows, vandalized a subway station and set fire in the streets.
Police retaliated by spraying tear gas.
Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam visited the station, saying she hopes the city will “be calm again soon and no more violence.”
The demonstrations began in June in opposition to a now-withdrawn extradition bill that would have allowed suspects in Hong Kong be taken to mainland China to stand trial in court run by the Communist Party.
They have since expanded into calls for more democratic reforms.
With Post wires
