US lawmakers mull legislation in support of Hong Kong demonstrators

US lawmakers are this week set to vote on three bills that would support pro-democracy demonstrators in Hong Kong, as protests in the city intensify.

If passed by members of the House of Representatives, the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act would see the US State Department prepare annual reports to monitor Beijing's influence on Hong Kong, with the city's special trading status with the US possibly in jeopardy if China reduces its autonomy.

US senator Josh Hawley, a sponsor of the bill, said his message to Washington was that "Hong Kong is in danger of sliding towards a police state and that representative government in Hong Kong is at risk, and that the one country two systems model is at risk."

The other two bills set to go before the house are the Protect Hong Kong Act, which would stop exports of items such as rubber bullets and tear gas to Hong Kong, and a resolution to cement America's relationship with the former British colony and condemn increased Chinese influence in the region.

Unrest in Hong Kong continued to escalate over the weekend, with initially peaceful protests sliding into violence as furious demonstrators attacked a police station, while others trashed shops and metro stations.

Police continued their attempts to disperse activists by firing tear gas and rubber bullets into crowds.

On Monday, Reuters reported that more restrained marches saw some demonstrators waving American flags as they called on US authorities to help them battle the perceived erosion of their rights in the Chinese-ruled city.

Beijing faces mounting pressure over its response to the long-running demonstrations, along with accusations of human rights abuses against Muslim minorities in the Xinjiang region.

However, President Xi Jinping lashed out at international critics during a visit to Nepal at the weekend, warning that attempts to divide the country would end in "crushed bodies and shattered bones".

"Any external forces that support the splitting of China can only be regarded as delusional by the Chinese people," said Xi, according to the Chinese foreign ministry.