Hong Kong protests: demonstrators gather in Central to express gratitude to US for signing democracy act into law
- Rally organiser compiles list of officials for submission to US, hoping Washington will impose sanctions on them for human rights violations
- City leader Carrie Lam, former leader Tung Chee-hwa, justice secretary Teresa Cheng, China official Wang Zhimin, and former police chiefs feature in the list
Thousands of protesters gathered in Central on Thanksgiving Day to express their gratitude to Washington for signing the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act into law, with the organiser compiling a list of 40 people on whom it hoped the US would impose sanctions.
Among others, the list has the names of Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, former chief executive Tung Chee-hwa, secretary for justice Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah, former police chiefs Andy Tsang Wai-hung and Stephen Lo Wai-Chung, and Chinese liaison office head Wang Zhimin.
The rally at Edinburgh Place was organised several hours after US President Donald Trump signed the legislation, which could sanction people for acts perceived to be undermining Hong Kong’s autonomy, and direct officers not to deny visas to people subjected to “politically motivated” arrests or detentions.
The organiser, the Hong Kong Higher Institutions International Affairs Delegation, estimated about 100,000 people attended the rally on Thursday night. However, police put the figure at 9,600 at its peak.
The democracy act also allows Washington to suspend Hong Kong’s special trading status based on an annual assessment of whether the city retains a sufficient degree of autonomy under “one country, two systems” principle.