While I know Trump often appears infatuated with leaders that brutalise their people, I'm not sure that his support of Chinese President Xi Jinping dealing with the Hong Kong protests 'quickly and humanely' would actually pan out that way.

Hugh from 'On the Offensive' correctly explains why Hong Kong is completely screwed.....once we signed off in 1997 this was always going to happen.

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'Who are you and how did you get in here? I'm a locksmith. And, I'm a locksmith.' (Leslie Nielsen)

I don't disagree, but at the same time their democratic values are well aligned with ours and will likely soon be obliterated. At a time like this the true worth of democracy must be so abundantly clear to them. It's sad to see them waving the Union Jack flag, and knowing that what is likely coming may well be gut wrenching. I'm not saying that we're to blame at all, just that what is happening is an attack on people both allied to us and also our shared values.

My wife had to spend an unexpected night in a Hotel in the Causeway Bay district of Hong Kong a week ago when her flight connection was missed. I was more worried than she was as I was aware of what was going on around her, but she witnessed nothing at all. I passed through the airport a few weeks prior to this and saw no sign of anything.

The last time I spent any time there was 3 years ago and you could sense this coming. The HK Chinese have little time for "mainlanders" who they regard as uncouth and uneducated, or at least those who arrive by the bus load to shop there.

I cannot though see China wanting to change the character of HK that much. What would it's purpose be if it wasn't a hub for the international financial communities and a major transport and shipping hub too? There has already been quite an exodus to Singapore and I am not sure they would want to see too much more.

I think they will accelerate their take over of all the institutions and style of government and insist we all regard HK as Chinese and not an ex British colony but will allow it's different culture to continue.

I hope so. There are some cracking good bowling clubs there, a decent cricket pitch and some good football and rugby stadiums as well.

For the avoidance of doubt any comments in response to a previous post are directed to its ideas and not at any, or all, posters personally.

I'm sure many of the same people bemoaning the crackdown in Hong Kong will be the same people advocating for gun laws in the US and advocating for Socialism.

Try asking the Hong Kong protesters whether they would prefer to be armed with something more than an umbrella and what they think of socialism right now.

The Hong Kong population is overwhelmingly Han Chinese, so the Tibet comparison is completely wrong.

Since 1997 there has been considerable immigration from China into Hong Kong, mostly from Fukien province, who are also Han Chinese. These more recent arrivals are generally very pro Beijing and therefore support the Hong Kong government which does what Beijing tells it to as Hong Kong is and has been part of China since 1997.

Whatever happens between now and 2047, the treaty states that ,that is the date when " one country, two systems " comes to an end.

In most countries the response against the " protestors " would have been much more robust. We have fully tooled up groups with helmets, gas masks, iron bars, wheel barrows loads of bricks and petrol bombs attacking police.

Latest thing is to go into subway stations, intimidate the staff smash up ticketing machines and what ever they can find.

This is now nothing to do with the proposed Extradition Bill which has been cancelled.

There was no democracy or self determination when Hong Kong was a Colony.

What I here of BBC and Sky News coverage is very biased.

Responsibility Deficit Disorder is a medical condition. Symptoms include inability to be corrected when wrong, false sense of superiority, desire to share personal info no else cares about, general hubris. It's a medical issue rather than pure arrogance.