Lam, who has rejected calls to withdraw the bill.

Many opponents are fearful the law would entangle people in the mainland';s opaque courts, leaving them vulnerable to a justice system seen as acting at the behest of the Chinese Communist Party.

More than 100 Hong Kong businesses said they would close Wednesday in a sign of solidarity with the protesters, and the city';s major student unions announced they would boycott classes to attend the rallies.

A string of other prominent unions in the transport, social work and teaching sectors either followed suit or encouraged members to attend while a bus drivers'; union said it would encourage members to drive deliberately slowly to support protests.

'It's the government who has forced people to escalate their actions, so I think it';s inevitable for theFernando Cheung.

'Because the situation is very tense, if she forces it through and asks the police to use violence, I';m afraid Hong Kong's children will be hurt, will bleed.'

Hong Kong';s leaders say the proposed law is needed to plug loopholes and to stop the city being a sanctuary for fugitives, and that safeguards are in place to ensure that political critics of Beijing will not be targeted.

But many Hong Kongers have little faith in the government';s assurances after years of heightened fears that a resurgent Beijing is trying to quash the city';s unique freedoms and culture -- despite a 50-year agreement between Hong Kong';s former colonial ruler, Britain, and China that means the city is guaranteed freedoms unseen on the Chinese mainland.

Western governments have also voiced alarm, with