Supporters of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement created human chains on both sides of the city’s harbour, inspired by a historic protest 30 years ago in the Baltic states against Soviet control.
The Canadian Consulate in Hong Kong has banned staff from travelling outside the city, including to mainland China.
The Foreign Office has said it is “urgently” seeking more information about a British Consulate worker detained in China.
China has said an employee at the British consulate in Hong Kong has been given 15 days of administrative detention in the city of Shenzhen for violating regulations on public order.
A Foreign Office staff member told his girlfriend “pray for me” moments before trying to travel out of China where it is believed he is being detained.
The Foreign Office has said it is concerned over reports that a staff member has been detained in China.
Boris Johnson should exploit the current atmosphere of goodwill towards the new British prime minister by pushing for unity at this weekend’s G7 summit, especially in framing a new approach to dealing with China, former Tory opposition leader William Hague has said.
A spokesman for China’s ceremonial legislature has condemned US politicians’ support for Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement as “a gross violation of the spirit of the rule of law”.
Members of China’s paramilitary People’s Armed Police have been seen marching and practising crowd-control tactics at a sports complex across from Hong Kong, in what some have interpreted as a threat against pro-democracy protesters.
Three senior police officers in Hong Kong have insisted they are not aware of any plans for Chinese forces to join efforts to quell mass demonstrations in the city.
Donald Trump has suggested trade talks with China can wait until tensions in Hong Kong have eased, tweeting: “Of course China wants to make a deal. Let them work humanely with Hong Kong first!”