The U.S. Department of State has announced the sanctioning of six officials from Beijing and Hong Kong in response to actions undermining Hong Kong’s autonomy and engaging in transnational repression. The decision was outlined in a press statement made by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and reflects the Trump Administration’s ongoing stance on Hong Kong’s political situation.
The Department of State has designated these sanctions under Executive Order 13936, associated with various U.S. legislative acts pertaining to Hong Kong, including the United States-Hong Kong Policy Act of 1992, Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019, and the Hong Kong Autonomy Act of 2020. According to the State Department’s statement, “Today’s actions, and publication of the ‘Hong Kong Policy Act Report’ report to Congress, demonstrate the Trump Administration’s commitment to hold to account those responsible for depriving people in Hong Kong of protected rights and freedoms or who commit acts of transnational repression on U.S. soil or against U.S. persons.”
The sanctioned individuals include five leaders or officials from the Hong Kong government and an additional person involved in implementing the National Security Law. Notably, the individuals mentioned are Sonny Chi Kwong Au, Dong Jingwei, Dick Chung Chun Wong, Margaret Wing Lan Chiu, Raymond Chak Yee Siu, and Paul Ting Kwok Lam.
The Fact Sheet released alongside the sanctions highlights the use of national security laws by Beijing and Hong Kong officials to intimidate and silence pro-democracy activists, some of whom are U.S. citizens and residents. The recent publication of the Hong Kong Policy Act report indicated a significant shift in U.S. policy, wherein Hong Kong no longer deserves special treatment under U.S. laws as before the 1997 handover.
In enforcing these sanctions, U.S. assets belonging to the designated individuals are frozen, and U.S. persons are prohibited from engaging in related transactions unless authorized by a special license. The Department of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) oversees these restrictions, emphasizing the U.S. government's capability to designate and potentially remove individuals from the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List under lawful conditions. The option to petition for removal from the list is available through OFAC’s established procedures.
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