INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Protesters in Hong Kong are celebrating after Donald Trump signed legislation that effectively backs their civil rights.Crowds of several
thousand pro-democracy activists waved the US national flag in Hong Kong's central district on Thursday, while others held up signs
thanking the US president.The jubilant scenes came as China's government promised to retaliate after Mr Trump signed the
legislation.Image:Protesters wave the US flag on the streets of Hong KongA statement from the Chinese ministry of foreign affairs warned it
would respond with "firm counter measures", adding that the US must bear the consequences if it continues "going down the wrong path".The
ministry also said that America's actions "further expose the malicious and hegemonic nature of US intentions to the Chinese people," and
that the country's actions are "bound to fail".Beijing had initially reacted with fury by summoning US ambassador Terry Branstad to demand
the United States immediately stops interfering in its internal affairs and causing further damage to bilateral relations.The bill requires
the US State Department to certify, at least annually, that Hong Kong retains enough autonomy to justify favourable US trading terms as well
as threatening sanctions for human rights violations.A second bill banning the export of teargas, pepper spray, rubber bullets and stun guns
to the Hong Kong police was also signed by President Trump.Image:Crowds gather at Edinburgh Place in Hong Kong's central district In a
statement he said: "I signed these bills out of respect for President Xi, China, and the people of Hong Kong."They are being enacted in the
hope that Leaders and Representatives of China and Hong Kong will be able to amicably settle their differences leading to long term peace
and prosperity for all."The Hong Kong government said it strongly opposes the US stance and regrets Mr Trump's backing for the
legislation.It said it would send the wrong signal to protesters and would not help ease the situation in the city.Image:The US has banned
the export of crowd control munitions to Hong Kong policeLeading pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong hailed the passing of the US legislation
and said he hoped it would spur other western nations to follow suit.He said: "For a US president (to) sign on the Hong Kong Human Rights
and Democracy Act, that's a remarkable achievement of all the Hong Kongers, with the courage and determination of Hong Kongers to fight
for freedom and democracy".Until he actually signed the bills, Mr Trump had been evasive about whether he would back them at a time of
delicate trade negotiations with China.But it appears his hand was forced by the overwhelming support for both pieces of legislation in the
Senate and House of Representatives.Listen to Divided States on Apple podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and SpreakerLast week he claimed
he had saved Hong Kong from being "obliterated in 14 minutes" by persuading Chinese leader Xi Jinping not to send in troops to crush the
pro-democracy activists.What started in March as a protest against a proposed extradition bill between the former British colony and China
has grown into a battle for its identity, with demonstrators fighting to prevent what they regard as the erosion of the autonomy and
democratic freedoms of Hong Kong.Earlier this week pro-democracy candidates scored a huge victory in district council elections, which have
left them in control of all but one of the local authorities that were up for grabs in Hong Kong.
