On Friday, it was announced by the United States that new visa restrictions will be imposed on Hong Kong officials responsible for repressing rights in the city following the implementation of a new national security law.
According to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Beijing has been taking actions against Hong Kong’s autonomy, democratic institutions, and freedoms over the past year.
This crackdown includes the recent enactment of “Article 23,” a national security law targeting offenses like treason, insurrection, espionage, and theft of state secrets.
In response to the increasing repression and limitations on civil society, media, and dissenting voices, the State Department is planning to enforce new visa restrictions on several Hong Kong officials, as stated in the announcement.
No specific details were provided by Blinken regarding the visa measures or the officials subject to them.
This development comes after the annual assessment of Hong Kong’s autonomy by Washington, with Blinken certifying that Hong Kong no longer deserves the same treatment as before July 1, 1997.
Previously, the US had imposed visa restrictions and sanctions on Hong Kong officials deemed responsible for undermining the city’s unique rights and freedoms compared to the rest of China.
In response to the suppression of the 2019 pro-democracy protests, the United States revoked Hong Kong’s special trade status in 2020.
China’s foreign ministry representative in Hong Kong strongly criticized the US for its recent actions, accusing them of tarnishing the security law and interfering in China’s internal affairs.
In 2020, Beijing introduced a comprehensive national security law in Hong Kong to quell the protests, and the recent implementation of Article 23 aimed to address security vulnerabilities.
Also on Friday, Radio Free Asia, a US government-funded news service, revealed the closure of its Hong Kong office due to concerns for the safety of its staff following the new law’s enforcement.
AFP