Civil servants join Hong Kong protests as Beijing accuses US

Hong Kong civil servants and supporters crowded into a public park Friday to join a pro-democracy movement that China's top diplomat accused Western nations of provoking.

Several thousand joined the rally for government workers in solidarity with protesters who have called for greater rights and government accountability over the past two months.

As rain hit the umbrella-ready crowd, attendees dispersed willingly, avoiding the police clashes that have increasingly beleaguered demonstrations.

"As civil servants, if we don't stand up, that means we are disloyal," said K H Wu, a retiree who worked for the government's Census Department for 40 years.

"Our loyalties are not to a particular government, but to the people."
"They disregard the needs of the population. With Hong Kong like this right now, you have to rid yourself of all fear."
Pompeo this week described the claim of an American guiding hand directing the protests as "ludicrous on its face."
"I think the protests are solely the responsibility of the people of Hong Kong," Pompeo said. The US Embassy in Beijing followed that up with a statement saying, "It is not credible to think millions of people are being manipulated to stand for a free and open society."
However, asked about the protests on Thursday, President Donald Trump echoed Beijing in labeling them "riots" and indicated the US. would stay out of a matter he considered to be "between Hong Kong and China."