Admin l Friday, August 07, 2020
WASHINGTON – The United States today designated 11 individuals for their roles in suppressing freedom in Hong Kong.They were designated pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13936 signed by President Donald Trump.
These individuals include Carrie Lam, Teresa Cheng, Erick Tsang, Zheng Yanxiong, Eric Chan, John Lee Ka-chiu, and Chris Tang, for their roles in coercing, arresting, detaining, or imprisoning individuals under the authority of, or having been responsible for or involved in developing, adopting, or implementing, the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in Hong Kong.
This law, according to Secretary of State, Michael Pompeo purportedly enacted to “safeguard” the security of Hong Kong, is in fact a tool of China Communist Party (CCP) repression.
“This action includes designations of Xia Baolong, Zhang Xiaoming, and Luo Huining for being leaders or officials of an entity engaged in actions or policies that threaten the peace, security, stability, or autonomy of Hong Kong”, the Department of States said.
Stephen Lo was also designated for being a foreign person who is or has been a leader or official of an entity, including any government entity, that has engaged in, or whose members have engaged in censorship or other activities with respect to Hong Kong that prohibit, limit, or penalize the exercise of freedom of expression or assembly by citizens of Hong Kong, or that limit access to free and independent print, online or broadcast media.
“Today’s actions send a clear message that the Hong Kong authorities’ actions are unacceptable and in contravention of the PRC’s commitments under “one country, two systems” and the Sino-British Joint Declaration, a UN-registered treaty”, the US said.
The statement added that the United States stands with the Hong Kong people at this particular time.
