Hong Kong Watch welcomes US decision to impose sanctions on the Hong Kong Chief Executive and Chinese Communist Party officials

Today the US Government has announced its intention to apply financial and travel sanctions on the Hong Kong Chief Executive, Carrie Lam, and other Hong Kong and Chinese officials in the city responsible for human rights abuses.

The US Government’s decision to impose sanctions on 11 Hong Kong and Chinese officials follows the adoption of the Hong Kong Autonomy Act, which requires the US State Department to annually report to Congress individuals, institutions, and financial institutions that have violated Hong Kong’s autonomy under the Sino-British Joint Declaration and the Hong Kong Basic Law, and requires the President to impose sanctions on those named.

Commenting on the announcement of US sanctions on Hong Kong and Chinese officials, Hong Kong Watch’s Chair and co-founder, Benedict Rogers said:

“This is a very welcome and important milestone in the campaign for the international community to stand up for human rights in Hong Kong.

For too long Carrie Lam and the Communist Party officials based in Hong Kong have been able to act with impunity, suspending freedoms, violating human rights, and eroding the way of life that many Hong Kongers have enjoyed since the handover.

Hong Kong Watch has consistently called for targeted sanctions on the perpetrators of human rights abuses in the city. We hope that other like minded partners will now have the moral courage to follow the example of the USA and enact Magnitsky sanctions against officials who violate human rights within the city, ensuring there is a steep price to be paid.”

For further information on Hong Kong Watch’s sanctions campaign: https://www.hongkongwatch.org/international-lifeboat-campaig