Trump muscles into Central lunchtime protest

A picture that the US president tweeted out overnight appeared as a poster in Central during the midday protest. Photo: RTHK

Some protesters call for sanctions under the newly passed acts in the United States. Photo: RTHK

Many office workers came out during lunch hour to continue their anti-government demonstration. Photo: RTHK

Dozens of people joined a lunchtime protest in Central on Thursday, with the signing of two Hong Kong-related bills by Donald Trump adding impetus, while a macho picture tweeted out by the US president himself appeared as a poster in the area.



As the lunch hour protest started with clockwork precision, as it has for the past two weeks, placards appeared thanking the United States for passing the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act and calling for sanctions against Chief Executive Carrie Lam.



The protesters, whose numbers increased gradually as white-collar workers in the commercial business district joined them, also chanted slogans supporting the demands of anti-government campaigners.



As the number of office workers increased, the crowd turned into an impromptu choir, belting out the song Glory to Hong Kong, the anthem adopted by protesters.



But Trump's actions resonated as loudly, with many of the protesters saying they welcomed the move. The picture the president himself tweeted out – with his face morphed into a "Rocky" movie poster – didn't get the same number of thumbs up though.



One man said he didn’t find the picture too interesting because it’s not the most creative poster he has seen.



A woman who paused to take a picture of the poster said she found it "funny" to find Trump's face on that body. But I understand why the president's poster was made like this, she said without explaining further.



Not all were disapprovals. One man said the poster makes him look like a hero, a champion. "I think Trump is the only one who can help Hong Kong now," he said.