US Sanctions Six Chinese, Hong Kong Officials Over Rights Violations
The United States has imposed sanctions on six senior Chinese and Hong Kong officials over human rights abuses linked to Beijing’s crackdown on democracy in the region, the State Department announced Monday.
According to the department, Hong Kong authorities have used national security laws to target pro-democracy activists abroad, including a U.S. citizen and four U.S. residents.
In response, the U.S. sanctioned six individuals accused of undermining Hong Kong’s autonomy and engaging in transnational repression.
The officials named in the sanctions include Sonny Chi Kwong Au, Secretary-General for the Committee for Safeguarding National Security in Hong Kong, and Raymond Chak Yee Siu, Police Commissioner of the Hong Kong Police Force. Others sanctioned are Dong Jingwei, Dick Chung Chun Wong, Margaret Wing Lan Chiu, and Paul Ting Kwok Lam.
Under the sanctions, all assets and financial interests of these individuals within U.S. jurisdiction are blocked, prohibiting any dealings with them by U.S. persons or entities.
The move reflects Washington’s continued pressure on Beijing over its handling of Hong Kong, following previous measures targeting officials accused of suppressing democratic freedoms in the city.
