HONG KONG — The United States has imposed sanctions on six officials from China and Hong Kong, citing their involvement in “transnational repression” that threatens the autonomy of Hong Kong. In response, China has vowed to implement countermeasures.
The targeted officials include Justice Secretary Paul Lam, Security Office Director Dong Jingwei, and Police Commissioner Raymond Siu. This move is anticipated to exacerbate existing tensions between Washington and Beijing, which are already strained due to trade disputes and issues surrounding Taiwan.
According to the U.S. State Department, the sanctioned officials are connected to actions that intimidate and silence pro-democracy activists who have fled overseas, including a U.S. citizen and several U.S. residents. The statement underscored that these officials were linked to coercive measures, arrests, and the implementation of Hong Kong’s national security law.
Among the other three implicated officials are Sonny Au, the Secretary-General for the city’s Committee for Safeguarding National Security, as well as Dick Wong and Margaret Chiu, both Assistant Police Commissioners.
Since the enactment of the national security law in 2020, intended to suppress the massive anti-government protests of 2019, Hong Kong authorities have aggressively pursued leading activists, undermining promises made during the city’s handover to China in 1997, which assured the preservation of civil liberties and a degree of autonomy for at least 50 years.
Over the past two years, the Hong Kong government has issued arrest warrants for 19 activists living abroad, offering bounties of HKD 1 million (approximately USD 128,500) for information leading to their capture. Notable among these activists are former pro-democracy lawmakers Nathan Law and Ted Hui. Additionally, some activists’ passports have been revoked under a revised security law enacted last year.
In response to the sanctions, the Hong Kong Office of China’s Foreign Ministry criticized the U.S., claiming it seeks to destabilize the city and hinder China’s development, while urging Washington to cease its interference. The statement echoed a commitment from Chinese officials to implement effective countermeasures.
The Hong Kong government condemned the sanctions as unjustified and asserted that they would not be intimidated. They further characterized the U.S. actions as hypocritical and reflective of a broader trend of coercion by Washington.
In comments regarding the sanctions, Justice Secretary Paul Lam stated that they would not impact his duties or life, labeling the sanctions as a form of “tyrannical bullying” aimed at deterring efforts to protect national security.
Frances Hui, an overseas-based activist, viewed the sanctions as a vital step towards addressing the crackdown on civil liberties in Hong Kong, expressing hope that it signifies a continued push for accountability against those responsible.
These latest sanctions are not the first imposed by the U.S.; previous measures were enacted during the Trump administration, and additional sanctions targeting officials related to the erosion of political freedoms in Hong Kong were introduced under the Biden administration in 2021.
