A huge crowd of anti-government protesters in Hong Kong has rallied to welcome US legislation that supports human rights and democracy in the territory.

Its organizers say about 100,000 people took part in the gathering on Hong Kong Island on Thursday.

Participants raised the US flag and sang the US national anthem in a sign of joy at the bill US President Donald Trump signed into law on Wednesday.

They called on the Hong Kong government to fulfill their demands, including the introduction of direct elections to choose the territory's chief executive.

But Chief Executive Carrie Lam has not shown any willingness to take action on the appeals despite the resounding victory of the pro-democracy bloc in district council elections on Sunday.

A protester in her 20s expressed delight at the enactment of the US legislation.

A protester in his 20s urged Beijing to learn from what it has done to date and the international attention it has drawn.

 NHK