US to impose visa restrictions on Hong Kong officials over rights concerns
Al Jazeera
US says crackdown by Hong Kong officials includes new national security law targeting treason, espionage and other crimes.
The United States has said it will impose new visa restrictions on a number of Hong Kong officials responsible for cracking down on “rights and freedoms”, days after a draconian national security law went into force in the Chinese-ruled territory.
The law - referred to as Article 23 – gives the government new powers to crack down on all forms of dissent on the grounds of alleged treason, espionage, sedition and external interference in Hong Kong’s internal affairs.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday said the legislation could be used to suppress dissent inside Hong Kong and further China’s campaign to intimidate activists abroad.
“In response, the Department of State is announcing that it is taking steps to impose new visa restrictions on multiple Hong Kong officials responsible for the intensifying crackdown on rights and freedoms,” Blinken said.
His statement did not identify the officials who would be targeted.
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