"Stand with Hong Kong" demo in Tokyo

Protesters in Japanese capital, Tokyo, formed a human chain in a "stand with Hong Kong" demonstration, calling on ir government to take a firm stance against China's imposition of strict national security laws over former British territory.

More than 50 people stood in front of a popular train station in Tokyo on Sunday, holding banners in support of Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement.

central government in Beijing imposed national security law on semi-automous Chinese territory after city leers were unable to get one passed locally.

Hong Kong has faced mounting international pressure following Beijing's implementation of law which has been viewed as an attack on "one country, two systems" framework under which city has been governed since its return to China in 1997.

Inspired by a historic protest more than 30 years ago in Baltic states when nearly 2 million people formed a human chain to protest Soviet control, Ho Ka Hin, a 21-year-old Hong Kong resident who is studying in Japan, organised Sunday's demonstration in Tokyo.

protest also resembled a human chain created by Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement on both sides of city's harbour a year ago.

" crisis in Hong Kong is t just about Hong Kong. It is a global crisis. It's t just about protecting Hong Kong, it's also about protecting Japan's future."

Shinichi Kakinuma, a 70 year-old Japanese author who participated in demonstration, said: "I am t very satisfied with policy of Japanese government. We must make clear our stand for Hong Kong."

Due to coronavirus pandemic, demonstrators maintained a certain distance apart from each or and wore face masks as y formed chain.