US slaps sanctions on Hong Kong chief, other officials over ‘draconian’ law

WASHINGTON, August 7

The United States on Friday imposed sanctions on Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam, the territory’s current and former police chiefs and eight other officials for their role in curtailing political freedoms in the territory.

President Donald Trump had last month signed to punish China for its moves against dissent in Hong Kong. The sanctions also target Hong Kong Police commissioner Chris Tang and his predecessor Stephen Lo; John Lee Ka-chiu, Hong Kong’s secretary of security, and Teresa Cheng, the justice secretary, the US Treasury Department said in a statement. It said Beijing’s imposition of draconian national security legislation had undermined Hong Kong’s autonomy and allowed mainland security services to operate with impunity. — Reuters