#BREAKING: The US is sanctioning 11 Hong Kong and Chinese officials, including Carrie Lam and Chris Tang, because of their direct involvement of the national security law legislation and human rights violation. Bloomberg @business also reports that. #HongKongProtests
The (former) Hong Kong officials include Carrie Lam, Teresa Cheng, John Lee, Chris Tang, Eric Chan, Stephen Lo, Erick Tsang. #HongKongProtests
And the Chinese officials to be sanctioned are Xia Baolong, Zhang Xiaoming, Zheng Yanxiong and Luo Huining. #HongKongProstests
All 11 officials are sanctioned INDIVIDUALLY, the US Dept of Treasury says in a statement that accuses them of “undermining Hong Kong’s autonomy and restricting the freedom of expression or assembly of the citizens of Hong Kong.” home.treasury.gov/news/press-rel…
“As a result of today’s action, all property and interests in property of the individuals named above... directly or indirectly... that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons, are blocked and must be reported to OFAC,” the statement continues.
The sanction list interestingly coincides with a norm in the Chinese political arena: “The Politburo Standing Committee is legally immune.” Therefore, Xia Baolong is the highest-level official punished by the US right now so far; meanwhile, Han Zheng is not seen on the list.
Former Hong Kong chief executive Leung Chun-ying expresses disappointment on Facebook, possibly for not being included in the sanction list.
“What a joke! Jimmy Lai and the Civic Party have spared no effort, and they’ve only got this far?” he questions.
Eric Chan, secretary-general of the Hong Kong Committee for Safeguarding National Security, replied to local paper Apple Daily that he has no comment on the sanction.
“In short, we do things strictly according to the rules,” he says. “I have no regret.” hk.appledaily.com/local/20200807…
Hong Kong Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Edward Yau, replies that the sanction against Hong Kong officials is a “savage and irrational” move and that the move itself would eventually impact American corporates.
The Hong Kong govt says in a statement it “reserve the right to take any necessary legal action” over the revelation of the officials’s personal info.
To take legal action against whom, Donald Trump and Mike Pompeo? And where, Hong Kong or The Hague?
info.gov.hk/gia/general/20…
And is it the first time that the Hong Kong government labels the anti-government protests that took place in the city last year as “anti-government riots”? info.gov.hk/gia/general/20…
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