MORRISTOWN, N.J. (Reuters) - Hong Kong’s freedoms of assembly and expression should be protected, a senior U.S. official said on Tuesday, after protesters opposed to China’s growing influence in the former British colony clashed with police.

“Freedoms of expression and assembly are core values that we share with the people of Hong Kong and these freedoms should be protected,” said the U.S. official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.