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Carrie Lam is the administrative director of Hong Kong. SHEET PICTURE / AFP
AFP
The United States is imposing sanctions on Carrie Lam, the administrative director of Hong Kong, and ten other high-ranking officials.
A statement from the Ministry of Finance cites weakening Hong Kong’s autonomy as the reason. At the end of June, Hong Kong enacted a Chinese-enforced security law that has received widespread criticism internationally, including from the United States.
Sanctions deprive Lami and other officials of access to all funds and holdings in the United States. Transactions with U.S. entities and sanctioned targets are also criminalized.
According to Foreign Minister Mike Pompeo, the United States is acting because China has broken its promise to maintain Hong Kong self-government.
“Today’s actions send a clear message that the actions of the Hong Kong authorities are unacceptable and contrary to the” one country, two systems “principle and the Sino-British joint declaration to which China is committed, Pompeo said.
The United States has in the past responded to the security law by, among other things, exporting Hong Kong a special status that guaranteed benefits to the region in areas such as trade, customs, and travel.