Saturday, 27 June_The US has imposed visa restrictions on Chinese officials for allegedly infringing on Hong Kong’s autonomy.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Friday that the restrictions would apply to unspecified current and former Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officials.
"President Trump promised to punish the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officials who were responsible for eviscerating Hong Kong's freedoms. Today, we are taking action to do just that," Pompeo said.
The US visa restrictions apply to "current and former CCP officials who are believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy," Pompeo said.
He cited China’s bid to supervise Hong Kong’s governance and unilaterally and arbitrarily imposing national security legislation in the territory.
Pompeo also accused China of violating human rights and fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong.
He said Beijing is putting pressure on local authorities to arrest anti-government activists and disqualify anti-China electoral candidates.
The US has intensified its rhetoric and measures against China in the midst of President Donald Trump's re-election campaign.
Last month, Trump said he was initiating a process to eliminate special economic treatment that has allowed Hong Kong to remain a global financial center.
In June last year, unprecedented anti-government protests began in Hong Kong over a proposed extradition bill. It was shelved under pressure from rallies later on, but the turbulent demonstrations continued the next several months and became more violent, endangering the lives and property of citizens.
The protesters have been demanding Hong Kong’s full secession since then. Beijing says the US and Britain have been fanning the flames of the unrest in the semi-autonomous hub by supporting the separatist protesters.
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