While the nature of the sanctions remained unclear, the move followed Chinese warnings that the USA would bear the costs if the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act was approved.

A U.S. -China trade deal has stalled, thanks to legislation that throws U.S. support behind political protests in Hong Kong. "We feel that this bill is completely unnecessary and totally unjustified".

The Chinese government also said Monday that it has imposed sanctions on a handful of US nongovernmental organizations accused of fanning the protests that have lasted for months.

China denies interfering in Hong Kong's affairs and says it is committed to the "one country, two systems" formula enshrined at the handover.

China today indefinitely suspended USA military ships and aircraft from visiting Hong Kong.

China suspended USA warship visits and imposed sanctions on American NGOs on Monday in retaliation for the passage of a bill backing pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong.

While China has in the past suspended visits by USA military ships and aircraft, sanctioning NGOs, especially those with connections to the US government, would bring conditions for civil society in Hong Kong significantly closer to those in mainland China. A USA official said the United States has set a deadline of December 15 for concluding a trade pact before even higher tariffs on Chinese goods are imposed.

She said she has spoken many times about the protesters' five demands and had nothing to add.

The bill was suspended but protests continued until, in September, the extradition bill was formally withdrawn by the government. "I'm very happy where we are", Trump said as he prepared to depart the White House for a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation summit in London.

"They bear great responsibility for the current chaos in Hong Kong", she said. "We will provide them with some relief, and hope to help them solve the difficulties they are now in".

The cuts come as the airline focuses "on operating other priority routes under the challenging business environment caused by the ongoing social unrest in Hong Kong".

Activists have pledged to hold lunch-time rallies throughout the week after a mass demonstration over the weekend when police fired tear gas to disperse crowds of protesters.

"The impact now is on confidence", Lam said.

"I am particularly concerned by the expansion of the duties [of auxiliaries] to include "riot control" work", he said.

The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for a comment.

Marching near the waterfront on the Kowloon side of Victoria Harbour, they sought to keep the pressure on city leader Carrie Lam after pro-democracy candidates won district council elections a week earlier.

Hong Kong Airlines, which has a feet of 39 Airbus SE planes, said it acknowledged the new requirements and that it regularly updates authorities on its operations and financial improvement plan.

In response to Lam's press conference, pro-democracy lawmaker Lam Cheuk-ting criticized Lam for neglecting instances of human rights violations, according to Hong Kong media RTHK. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.