The United States has imposed sanctions on Hong Kong’s top police official and its justice secretary, citing their roles in undermining freedoms in the region. The move is part of Washington’s broader efforts to hold officials accountable for enforcing China’s national security law in the former British colony.
According to the US Treasury Department, the sanctions target Hong Kong Police Commissioner Raymond Siu and Secretary for Justice Paul Lam. The US accuses them of suppressing dissent and cracking down on pro-democracy activists under the Beijing-imposed security law. This legislation, enacted in 2020, has led to the arrests and prosecution of several opposition figures, journalists, and civil society groups.
The sanctions will freeze any assets the officials have in US jurisdictions and restrict American entities from conducting business with them. The move has drawn sharp criticism from Hong Kong and Beijing, which condemned the sanctions as foreign interference in China’s internal affairs.
This latest action marks an escalation in tensions between Washington and Beijing over Hong Kong’s autonomy, with the US continuing to pressure Chinese and Hong Kong officials over alleged human rights violations.
