Hong Kong decries latest US sanctions over opposition arrests as ‘insane, shameless and despicable’

Government also accuses US of using ‘coercive measures’ to meddle in China’s internal affairs

New sanctions include city’s sole delegate to China’s top legislative body and three members of local police force’s national security arm

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The Hong Kong government has lashed out at the US over fresh sanctions against local and mainland officials. Photo: AP

Published: 2:30pm, 16 Jan 2021Updated: 4:43pm, 24 Feb 2021

Hong Kong’s government has lashed out at the United States for “insane, shameless and despicable” interference in the city’s internal affairs after the departing administration in Washington slapped sanctions on six officials over the enforcement of the national security law.

Echoing the government’s rejection of American intervention on Saturday was one of those on the latest sanctions list, Tam Yiu-chung, the city’s sole delegate to China’s top legislative body.

Both Tam and the local government said they fully supported Beijing in adopting appropriate countermeasures in response to the action, which followed the mass arrests of opposition activists earlier this month by Hong Kong police’s national security unit.

Apart from Tam, the US State Department also targeted two high-ranking Chinese officials involved with Hong Kong policy, and three senior police officers in the city.

A spokesman for Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor’s administration denounced the “coercive measures”, accusing the US of attempting to interfere in China’s internal affairs and obstruct Hong Kong’s efforts to safeguard national security.

A spokesman for Chief Executive Carrie Lam’s administration defended authorities’ ‘dutiful, faithful and lawful implementation of the law’. Photo: Nora Tam

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