Trump urges ‘humane solution’ in Hong Kong

Police walk on a street as protesters gathered near Mong Kok police station in Hong Kong on October 7, 2019. – Hong Kong protesters arrested for defying a new face mask ban appeared in court on October 7 following a violent weekend of unrest which saw bloody clashes with police and widespread vandalism that crippled the city’s train network. (Photo by Nicolas ASFOURI / AFP)

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US President Donald Trump on Monday urged a “humane solution” in Hong Kong but noted that the crowds protesting against Chinese authorities were smaller than before.

“We just want to see a humane solution,” Trump said in comments to reporters. “I think they have to do that in a peaceful manner.”

He remarked on the “great people over there” and said, “they’re flying the American flag.”

But Trump avoided expressing support for the protesters’ unprecedented show of defiance against Chinese communist rule and questioned whether they were losing steam.

At the start, “I saw two million people. I’ve never seen anything like it,” Trump said. “The crowd size is much smaller now, so maybe that’s saying something.”

© Agence France-Presse