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The United States on Friday imposed sanctions on Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam, the territory's current and former police chiefs and eight other officials for their role in curtailing political freedoms in the territory.
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The sanctions were imposed under an executive order U.S. President Donald Trump signed last month to punish China for its moves against dissent in Hong Kong and are the latest action by his administration against Beijing in the run-up to his November re-election bid.
As well as Lam, the sanctions target Hong Kong Police commissioner Chris Tang and his predecessor Stephen Lo; John Lee Ka-chiu, Hong Kong's secretary of security, and Teresa Cheng, the justice secretary, the U.S. Treasury Department said in a statement.
Breaking: US sanction list of Hong Kong and Chinese officials: Chief executive Carrie Lam, CE office head Eric Chan, Sec for Justice Teresa Cheng, Sec for Security John Lee, Police chief Chris Tang and ex-chief Stephen Lo, Constitutional Sec Erick Tsang /1https://t.co/b8e9T2DvDE pic.twitter.com/qNvw0upO5m
— Kris Cheng (@krislc) August 7, 2020
It said Beijing's imposition of draconian national security legislation had undermined Hong Kong's autonomy and allowed mainland security services to operate with impunity, "setting the groundwork for censorship of any individuals or outlets that are deemed unfriendly to China."
"Carrie Lam is the chief executive directly responsible for implementing Beijings policies of suppression of freedom and democratic processes," it said.
“The United States stands with the people of Hong Kong and we will use our tools and authorities to target those undermining their autonomy,” Secretary of the Treasury StevenRead More – Source
