University of Hong Kong students wave American flags and march in appeal for US to pass Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act

Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019 is currently under review by the House Foreign Affairs Committee

Beijing, meanwhile, has warned against efforts to ‘disrupt Hong Kong with foreign support’

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HKU students raised US flags in campus and sang the countryâs anthem to appeal for American support for the HK democracy act at HKU. 20SEP19 SCMP/ Winson Wong

Published: 7:54pm, 20 Sep 2019Updated: 7:54pm, 20 Sep 2019

University of Hong Kong students held a march on campus on Friday, waving American flags and singing The Star Spangled Banner in a bid to urge Washington to support a bill that could pave the way for diplomatic action and economic sanctions against the city’s government.

The bill, the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019, is currently under review by the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Beijing, meanwhile, has warned against efforts to “disrupt Hong Kong with foreign support”.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday threw her support behind the bill and said she would bring it to a vote “as soon as possible”.

During the HKU march on Friday, a group of around 50 students held pro-American banners and chanted “Resist Beijing! Liberate Hong Kong!”.

Some protesters appealed directly to President Donald Trump. One placard read “make Hong Kong great again” – a reference to Trump’s campaign slogan – and others called for the US president to immediately sign the bill into law if it should pass through the House.

Students appeal for US support for Hong Kong’s democracy on Friday. Photo: Winson Wong