Backers of Hong Kong, Beijing rally supporters

Thousands of protesters are expected to attend pro-democracy rallies across Australia to stand in Solidarity with Hong Kong.

Pro-China students yell at Hong Kong protesters outside the University of South Australia in Adelaide on Friday. Picture: AAP

Supporters of movement in Hong Kong protested at the University of South Australia City West Campus this afternoon, unleashing a wave of rallies across Australia tonight, while a major pro-”One China“ event will be held in Sydney tomorrow.

The Friday Pro-Democracy rally demand UK to “declare a Chinese breach of the Sino-British Joint Declaration” for the handover of Hong Kong, and ask for the US Congress and the UK Parliament to “impose Magnitsky-style sanctions upon the persons responsible for / complicit in the suppression of rights and freedom in Hong Kong”, according to their event facebook page.

Now in adelaide #香港 #HongKong #HongKongProtests pic.twitter.com/mPc8pUPyJJ

— Yudai Oriver K (@not_you_die) August 16, 2019

Videos emerging on social media show that a large number of Chinese students also gathered outside the university’s Pridham Hall to counter Hong Kong students’ protest, chanting and singing Chinese national anthem.

As part of “Global Solidarity with Hong Kong” movement, Hong Kong students will demonstrate in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane tonight, followed by a rally in Perth tomorrow, to call on Australia to show support for the Hong Kong protesters, whose campaign has shaken the Asian ­finance and transport hub over the past 10 weeks.

Hong Kong protesters rally outside the campus on Friday.

The Australian rallies will precede a weekend of rolling protests across the globe, with events to be held in Washington, Boston, New York, Los Angeles, Paris, Auckland, Tokyo and many other cities.

To counter the pro-democracy rallies, more than 150 Chinese-Australian community organisations that endorse the Hong Kong government and police have urged “all peace-loving countries and people” to stop “illegal and ­violent conducts” and restore law and order in Hong Kong.

“As Chinese abroad, we are concerned about recent developments in Hong Kong, caring about Hong Kong fellow citizens’ wellbeing as well as Hong Kong’s ­future prosperity,” read the joint statement published in Chinese-language media. “After 150 years of colonisation, Hong Kong had returned to China. We call all countries to respect China’s sovereignty. We call Chinese people globally, regardless of nationalities and regions, regardless of gender and age, to speak together to support Hong Kong people, Hong Kong government, to support Hong Kong police to maintain Hong Kong society’s peace and solidarity.”

The statement was signed by Australian Council for the Promotion of Peaceful Reunification, which was previously chaired by Chinese developer Huang Xiangmo, whose permanent residency was cancelled by the Australian government late last year; Australia China Economics, Trade and Culture Association; and many Guang Dong and Fujian folk communities that share common cultural and ancestry roots with many Hong Kong residents.

Organisers of the Pro-One-China rally in Sydney tomorrow said they were a loose group of ­“ordinary members of the public” from all walks of life, and insisted they were not from or backed by any pro-China community groups or the Chinese government.

This week an open letter with no signatory has been circulating on Chinese social media platform WeChat, asking fellow Chinese Australians to advocate for Hong Kong people’s freedom and rights.