US imposes new visa restrictions on Hong Kong officials over rights suppression
- In Reports
- 10:44 AM, Mar 30, 2024
- Myind Staff
On Friday, the United States announced its plans to implement new visa constraints on several Hong Kong officials in reaction to the ongoing suppression of rights and freedoms in the region under Chinese control.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken issued a statement highlighting China's continual violations of Hong Kong's promised autonomy, democratic systems, and basic freedoms throughout the past year. This includes the recent enforcement of a new national security law known as Article 23.
"Over the past year, the People's Republic of China (PRC) has continued to take actions against Hong Kong's promised high degree of autonomy, democratic institutions, and rights and freedoms. This includes Hong Kong authorities' recent enactment of legislation under Article 23 of the Basic Law, which has broad and vaguely defined provisions regarding 'sedition'," 'state secrets,' and interactions with foreign entities," said Blinken in an official statement.
"These provisions could both be used to eliminate dissent inside Hong Kong and applied outside of its borders as part of the PRC's ongoing campaign of transnational repression," the statement added.
"In response, the Department of State is announcing that it is taking steps to impose new visa restrictions on multiple Hong Kong officials responsible for the intensifying crackdown on rights and freedoms, pursuant to Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act," Blinken also said.
The statement did not specify which officials would be targeted by these new restrictions. This announcement comes after a prior US bill in November, which demanded sanctions against 49 Hong Kong officials, judges, and prosecutors implicated in national security matters. Hong Kong officials criticised this bill, alleging that US lawmakers were engaging in grandstanding and seeking to intimidate the city.
Among the officials named in the previous Hong Kong Sanctions Act were Secretary for Justice Paul Lam, Police Chief Raymond Siu, and several judges including Andrew Cheung, Andrew Chan, Johnny Chan, Alex Lee, Esther Toh, and Amanda Woodcock.
Previously, the United States had imposed visa restrictions and other sanctions on Hong Kong officials accused of undermining freedoms. Furthermore, it has announced the termination of the special economic privileges that Hong Kong had long benefitted from under US law.
Image source: AP
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