US sanctions four more officials for “eviscerating freedoms of Hongkongers, undermining Hong Kong’s autonomy”

DHARAMSALA, 10 Nov: The US has announced sanctions against four PRC and Hong Kong officials for allegedly threatening and undermining the peace, security and autonomy of Hong Kong.

“Today, the U.S. Department of State is designating four PRC and Hong Kong officials in connection with implementing the PRC-imposed National Security Law and threatening the peace, security, and autonomy of Hong Kong, pursuant to Executive Order 13936,” read the statement issued by the US Department of State on Monday as it announced its decision to impose the sanctions on four more officials over Hong Kong.

The four officials at the receiving end of the US sanction that bars them from travelling to the US and their US-based assets, if any, will be frozen includes Li Jiangzhou, the Deputy Director of the Office for Safeguarding National Security, which was established under the NSL along with Edwina Lau, the head of the National Security Division of the Hong Kong Police Force, Steve Li Kwai-Wah, the Senior Superintendent and Deng Zhonghua, the Deputy Director of the Hong Kong & Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO).

“These actions underscore the US resolve to hold accountable key figures that are actively eviscerating the freedoms of the people of Hong Kong and undermining Hong Kong’s autonomy,” Pompeo said in the statement. 

The Secretary of State has further called on “Beijing to abide by international commitments it made in the Sino – British Joint Declaration, a UN-registered treaty.

Earlier in August, the US imposed sanctions on Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam for “implementing Beijing’s policies of suppression of freedom and democratic processes” along with 10 other top officials from Hong Kong and mainland China.

The 11 sanctioned officials will have all their property in the US if any, seized and financial assets frozen.

The US-China relationship has been deteriorating from many fronts, with the ongoing trade war, China originated COVID-19 pandemic as well as China’s Human rights violations and the imposition of the controversial new security law in Hong Kong among others.