Beijing Denounces New US Sanctions Over HK Crackdown

Beijing on Tuesday denounced new US sanctions against four Hong Kong and mainland officials over the crackdown on dissent in the SAR, saying such moves “grossly interfere in China’s internal affairs.”

The US State Department said on Monday that the four would be banned from travelling to the US and would have any assets in the country blocked, calling it a response for their roles in implementing Hong Kong's national security law.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin called the move a violation of the “basic norms governing international relations” and urged the US to withdraw the sanctions.

“The relevant US behaviours blatantly meddle in Hong Kong affairs and grossly interfere in China’s internal affairs,” Wang told reporters at a daily briefing.

The four officials are Li Jiangzhou, the deputy director of the Office for Safeguarding National Security; head of the police National Security Department Edwina Lau; police senior superintendent Steve Li; and deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office Deng Zhonghua.

The US had already imposed such sanctions on a number of Hong Kong and mainland officials, including Chief Executive Carrie Lam.

Wang reiterated Beijing's claim that it had been forced to introduce the national security law at a time when Hong Kong's security was under serious threat.

“The purpose is to punish those who severely undermine national security and protect the vast majority of Hong Kong residents abiding by the law," he said.