U.S. Sanctions Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam

The United States has sanctioned Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Carrie Lam, along with ten other individuals, “for undermining Hong Kong’s autonomy and restricting the freedom of expression or assembly of the citizens of Hong Kong”.

Recent national security legislation passed by China on Hong Kong has, according to the United States, infringed on the rights of people in Hong Kong”, and set the groundwork for China’s censorship of Hong Kong citizens “that are deemed unfriendly to China”.

President Trump passed an executive order in response to China’s national security law in which the United States declared it will not longer treat Hong Kong as “sufficiently autonomous” from China, and therefore no longer exempt from differential treatment. It also established the ability of the U.S. to impose sanctions like today’s, “on actors engaged in these malign activities”.

U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin stated that the United States will continue to use the tools and authorities granted by the order “to target those undermining [Hong Kong’s] autonomy”.

In addition to Carrie Lam, the U.S. sanctioned the Commissioner of Hong Kong’s Police Force as well as Hong Kong’s Secretary for Security, Justice, and Constitutional and Mainland Affairs.