Protesters gather during a rally at Victoria Park in Hong Kong on Sunday, Aug. 18, 2019. Thousands of people streamed into a park in central Hong Kong on Sunday for what organizers hope will be a peaceful demonstration for democracy in the semi-autonomous Chinese territory. (Photo from Apple Daily via AP)
HONG KONG 鈥� Heavy rain fell on tens of thousands of umbrella-toting protesters Sunday as they marched from a packed park in central Hong Kong, where mass pro-democracy demonstrations have become a regular weekend activity this summer.
While recent rallies have been marked by violent clashes with police, organizers said they hoped Sunday鈥檚 assembly would be peaceful.
鈥淲e hope that there will not be any chaotic situations today,鈥� said organizer Bonnie Leung. 鈥淲e hope we can show the world that Hong Kong people can be totally peaceful.鈥�
Leung鈥檚 group, the Civil Human Rights Front, has organized three massive marches in Hong Kong since June. While all three were peaceful, the protest movement has been increasingly marked by clashes between demonstrators and police.
In Beijing, You Wenze, a spokesman for China鈥檚 ceremonial legislature, condemned statements from U.S. lawmakers supportive of Hong Kong鈥檚 pro-democracy movement.
You called the lawmakers鈥� comments 鈥渁 gross violation of the spirit of the rule of law, a blatant double standard and a gross interference in China鈥檚 internal affairs.鈥�
He said that Hong Kong鈥檚 7.5 million people and the Chinese population as a whole rejected the actions of a 鈥渧ery small group of violent protesters鈥� as well as 鈥渁ny interference of foreign forces.鈥�
You did not mention any specific lawmaker, but numerous U.S. senators and Congress members, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, have affirmed the U.S. commitment to human rights and urged Hong Kong鈥檚 government to end the standoff.
Congress also has the power to pass legislation affecting Hong Kong鈥檚 relationship with the U.S. in ways that could further erode the territory鈥檚 reputation for stability and rule of law. That includes the recent re-introduction of the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act in Congress, which would among its other provisions require the secretary of state to issue an annual certification of Hong Kong鈥檚 autonomy to justify special treatment afforded to the city.
More directly, President Donald Trump could simply issue an executive order suspending Hong Kong鈥檚 special trading status with the U.S., a move that could have a devastating effect on the local economy at a time when Beijing and Washington are engaged in a bitter trade war.
The protest movement鈥檚 demands include Lam鈥檚 resignation, democratic elections and an independent investigation into police use of force.
Harley Ho, a 20-year-old social work student who attended Sunday鈥檚 rally, said protesters were undeterred by the rain and would not rest until their demands were met.
鈥淲e will stand here, we will take action until they respond to us,鈥� she said. 鈥淚n the rain, our spirit becomes stronger.鈥�
Members of China鈥檚 paramilitary People鈥檚 Armed Police force have been training for days across the border in Shenzhen, including on Sunday morning, fueling speculation that they could be sent in to suppress the protests. The Hong Kong police, however, have said they are capable of handling the protests.
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