Secretary of State Rubio says Beijing ‘broke guarantees’ to Hong Kong residents, depriving them of their freedoms.
The US has imposed sanctions on six Chinese language and Hong Kong officers to punish China for its ongoing crackdown on democracy advocates within the monetary hub, which was returned to Chinese language rule in 1997.
The US Division of State introduced the sanctions on Monday. They aim outstanding figures, together with Hong Kong Police Commissioner Raymond Siu Chak-yee and Secretary for Justice Paul Lam for taking part in a job in efforts to “intimidate, silence and harass 19 pro-democracy activists”.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio mentioned on X that Beijing had “damaged its guarantees” after pledging to permit the territory a excessive diploma of autonomy, “depriving Hong Kongers of freedoms” and fascinating in “acts of transnational repression focusing on activists on US soil”.
.@StateDept’s newest Hong Kong Coverage Act Report demonstrates that Beijing has damaged its guarantees to the individuals of Hong Kong. The US is imposing sanctions on six people for undermining Hong Kong’s autonomy, depriving Hong Kongers of freedoms, and in being…
— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) March 31, 2025
The sanctions, marking a uncommon foray into human rights by the administration of President Donald Trump, will block any pursuits held by the six people within the US and customarily criminalise monetary transactions with them below US legislation.
Additionally they goal Dong Jingwei, a former senior official at China’s primary civilian intelligence company who’s now the director of Beijing’s Workplace for Safeguarding Nationwide Safety in Hong Kong; together with senior safety and police officers Sonny Au; Dick Wong; and Margaret Chiu.
‘Aggressive’ crackdown
Beijing promised a separate system for Hong Kong when Britain handed over the monetary hub in 1997.
However it then went on to launch main crackdowns on dissent, imposing draconian nationwide safety guidelines after massive and at instances damaging protests in favour of democracy swept town in 2019.
The State Division’s newest Hong Kong Coverage Act Report, revealed on Monday, pointed to 2 legal guidelines – the Beijing-imposed 2020 Nationwide Safety Legislation and the Hong Kong authorities’s Safeguarding Nationwide Safety Ordinance – which it mentioned had been used to “aggressively” prosecute professional‑democracy and media freedom advocates.
Targets included the 2 former chief editors of the now-defunct impartial information outlet Stand News – Chung Pui-kuen and Patrick Lam – who have been final 12 months jailed on prices of conspiring to publish seditious publications.
Chinese language and Hong Kong authorities mentioned the Nationwide Safety Legislation – which punishes subversion, collusion with international forces and terrorism with as much as life in jail – has introduced stability to the Chinese language-controlled territory for the reason that 2019 protests.
The six sanctioned officers have been focused in keeping with a US legislation that champions Hong Kong democracy.
Hong Kong’s high official, Chief Govt John Lee, is already below US sanctions.
