Lawmakers Call for Sanctioning Hong Kong Officials Over Repression

The leaders of the House Select Committee on China and the Congressional-Executive Commission on China urged the Biden administration July 17 to sanction 28 Hong Kong government officials for recent efforts to dismantle the Chinese territory's autonomy and stifle political dissent.

Imposing sanctions “would send a clear and unmistakable message that the United States stands firmly with the people of Hong Kong in their struggle for democracy and human rights," the lawmakers said. "It would also underscore our commitment to holding accountable those who perpetrate and enable human rights abuses."

In a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, the lawmakers cited the May 29 conviction of 47 Hong Kong pro-democracy activists under a new national security law. The new law "clearly illustrates Hong Kong authorities’ willing contribution to the [Chinese Communist Party’s] strategy to undermine the freedoms that distinguish Hong Kong from mainland China,” the lawmakers wrote.

The officials who should be sanctioned include Justice Secretary Paul Lam Ting-kwok, Director of the Office for Safeguarding National Security Dong Jingwei, Secretary General of the Committee for Safeguarding National Security Sonny Au Chi-kwong, Police Commissioner Raymond Siu Chak-yee, other police officials, prosecutors, judges and magistrates, the letter says.

The letter is signed by Reps. John Moolenaar, R-Mich., and Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., the chairman and ranking member, respectively, of the House Select Committee, and Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., and Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., chair and co-chair, respectively, of the Congressional-Executive Commission.

The State and Treasury departments didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.

The letter came about six weeks after Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., introduced a bill that would reauthorize the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act for five years (see 2406070004). The law, which expires this year, requires the president to sanction Chinese and Hong Kong officials responsible for human rights violations in Hong Kong.