Beijing vows retaliation over new round of US sanctions on officials in Hong Kong
Justice minister Paul Lam, who is among those sanctioned, says move ‘completely groundless’ as he dismisses potential impact
Hours after the US announced the sanctions on Tuesday, the Chinese foreign ministry and the Hong Kong government voiced their strong disapproval and defended the city’s use of national security laws to pursue 19 activists overseas, including an American citizen.
The announcement of the sanctions coincided with Washington submitting its latest Hong Kong Policy Act Report to the United States Congress, which covered views on democracy, judicial independence and human rights in 2024.
The report said central and Hong Kong authorities continued to use national security as a broad and vague basis to undermine the rule of law and protected rights and freedom.
“The US has issued another so-called report that is filled with lies and fallacies ... while also imposing illegal unilateral sanctions on Hong Kong-based central government bodies and local officials,” foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said.
“It fully exposes the malicious intent of the US side to undermine Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability, and contain China’s development … China will resolutely counter the erroneous actions of the US.”