EDINBURGH, October 1 (RIA Novosti) – Participants of a pro-Hong Kong democracy rally in Edinburgh would like the British Government to do more to urge the Chinese authorities to exercise restraint with regard to Hong Kong protesters, one of the rally's organizers told RIA Novosti Wednesday.
"I have seen the White House statement released by the US government a few days ago and I really hope the UK Government can do something similar, because Hong Kong used to be a colony of the British. I wish they can say something and help Hong Kong people," Michelle Ng, a student at Edinburgh University, said.
"It is possible the authorities will escalate the violence and I am so scared about this because I have a lot of friends there. I can't bear to watch them fighting for democracy whilst I am in Edinburgh and feel I can't do nothing. So that is why I am organizing this protest here," Ng added.
Some of the protesters who gathered in Edinburgh came with umbrellas, a symbol of the pro-democracy demonstrations in Hong Kong.
"The umbrella is the only defense to the pepper spray and tear gas being used by the police during the protests in Hong Kong," Ng explained, adding that "A lot of police are using a lot of violence to evacuate the protesters that the authorities say are blocking the business district in Hong Kong."
"There is no history in Hong Kong of violence being used against the people in Hong Kong," Ng noted.
"That is why we have to highlight this to the rest of the world. We know only overseas countries can help the Hong Kong people," Ng said.
On Wednesday, the White House issued an official statement, urging China to give the people of Hong Kong a genuine choice of candidates for the 2017 elections, calling on the Chinese authorities to show restraint, and asking Hong Kong protesters to express their views in a peaceful manner.
Thousands of people have taken to the streets of Hong Kong to take part in protests against the Chinese government's plans to control the 2017 Hong Kong election.
Protesters say Beijing has gone back on its pledge to allow universal suffrage in Hong Kong, which was promised a high degree of autonomy when it was handed back to China by Britain in 1997.
