World | Hong Kong: protesters appeal to the United States

"We are urgently calling on the international community to support us, there is no alternative," a 24-year-old student, Chun, told AFP.

Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters once again took over Hong Kong's center on Monday at a police-sanctioned rally demanding the support of the international community, particularly the United States.

Protesters urge US officials to vote a text that would punish Chinese leaders, accused of seizure of the policy of the semi-autonomous territory, in the grip of an unprecedented crisis.

"The situation here is critical"

The Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, which could be voted on this week by the US House of Representatives, would imply an annual reassessment of the special status the United States accords to Hong Kong in commercial terms, and could provide for sanctions against Chinese officials.

One of the project's promoters, Republican Senator Josh Hawley, denounced a drift into a "police state" during a two-day visit to the former British colony, which has been the scene for four months of pro-democracy demonstrations by more and more violent.

"The situation here is critical," said Josh Hawley on Monday, who attended a protest in the popular district of Mongkok Sunday night. He also met with pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong during his visit.

Supporters of "separatism cut to pieces" (Xi Jinping)

The movement began in June the rejection of a draft law on extraditions – now suspended – and then significantly expanded its claims. The protesters are calling for greater democratic freedoms or an investigation into police attitudes since the beginning of the mobilization.

President Xi Jinping has just warned supporters of "separatism" in China that they would be "cut to pieces", in a context of militancy still active for the independence of Tibet and demonstrations in Hong Kong.