Protesters in Hong Kong waved posters of Donald Trump’s head superimposed on the shirtless body of Rocky actor Sylvester Stallone to thank him for signing a law supporting their cause.

Pro-democracy demonstrators draped themselves in American flags and sang the US national anthem while others held up the image showing the president’s expressionless face on fictional boxing champion Rocky Balboa’s bare torso during a Thanksgiving rally.

The president posted the image on Twitter on Wednesday after claiming a doctor once told him to show his “gorgeous chest” during an exam.

He told a campaign rally in Florida that the doctor said: “Take off your shirt, sir, and show us that gorgeous chest. We’ve never seen a chest quite like it.”

Thousands of Hong Kong citizens gathered to celebrate on Thursday after Mr Trump unexpectedly signed two bills which commit the US to conducting an annual review into the state of Hong Kong’s autonomy from mainland China.

Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban Show all 24 1 /24 Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban Police in riot gear move through a cloud of smoke as they detain a protester at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University AP Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban A protester takes cover under an umbrella Reuters Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban A protestor reacts to police officers EPA Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban Pro-democracy protesters react after the police fired tear gas outside the Hong Kong Polytechnic University EPA Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban A pro-democracy protester holds a placard EPA Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban Protesters react as police fire tear gas AFP via Getty Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban An anti-government protester is silhouetted during protests Reuters Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban Tear gas engulf umbrellas Reuters Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban A protester lowers himself down a rope from a bridge to a highway, to escape AFP via Getty Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban People form a human chain to pass materials as they gather for a march towards Hong Kong Polytechnic University AFP via Getty Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban Protesters are seen after leaving the campus of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University Reuters Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban Pro-democracy protesters during clashes with police outside the Hong Kong Polytechnic University EPA Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban Police spray blue-dyed liquid AP Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban Protesters are sprayed with blue liquid from water cannon during clashes with police outside Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) in Hong Kong, China, November 17, 2019. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu TYRONE SIU Reuters Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban Police officers detain a protester AP Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban An injured protester is evacuated by ambulance EPA Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban Injured people are taken away after clashes Getty Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban A protester throws back a tear gas canister fired by police at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University in Hong Kong on November 17, 2019. - Hong Kong police fired tear gas on November 17 morning at protesters intent on keeping their stranglehold on a major tunnel as pro-democracy activists vowed to "squeeze the economy" into next week. (Photo by Ye Aung Thu / AFP) (Photo by YE AUNG THU/AFP via Getty Images) YE AUNG THU AFP via Getty Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban Police arrest anti-government protesters Getty Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban A protester's umbrella is seen on fire during clashes with police outside Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) in Hong Kong, China November 17, 2019. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha ATHIT PERAWONGMETHA Reuters Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban Medical staff carry a protester out of the campus of Hong Kong Polytechnic University Reuters Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban Protesters try to extinguish a tear gas canister Reuters Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban Protesters take a rope down from a bridge to a highway, to escape from Hong Kong Polytechnic University campus AFP via Getty Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban A protestor gestures during a confrontation with police AP

The first bill Mr Trump signed mandates sanctions on Chinese and Hong Kong officials who carry out human rights abuses and requires an annual review of the favourable trade status that Washington grants Hong Kong.

Another bill bans US exports of rubber bullets, teargas and other crowd-control equipment to Hong Kong, following accusations that the police have put such measures to excessive use during the city’s six-month protest crisis.

Pro-democracy protesters take part in a Thanksgiving Day rally at Edinburgh Place on 28 November, 2019 in Hong Kong, China. (Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

Mr Trump said he signed the bills late on Wednesday “out of respect for president Xi [Jinping], China, and the people of Hong Kong ... in the hope that [the] 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”.

However China reacted furiously, threatening “consequences” for the US president’s actions.

Beijing summoned the US ambassador on Thursday afternoon, urging the American government not to apply the new law.

The protesters are angry over creeping Chinese interference in Hong Kong that they say is eroding their rights promised when the former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997.

Since the unrest broke out in June, protesters have disrupted traffic, smashed public facilities and pro-China shops, and have been involved in clashes with riot police who have responded with volleys of tear gas and water cannons.

Hong Kong police have arrested 5,890 people as a result of the protests.