Hong Kong 47: government slams US over fresh sanctions vow after activists jailed
US ‘taking steps’ to impose visa restrictions on ‘multiple Hong Kong officials’ after 45 activists jailed in landmark national security trial
Hong Kong authorities have hit out at the US after the country vowed to impose fresh sanctions in the form of visa restrictions on multiple officials responsible for implementing the national security law in response to the jailing of 45 opposition figures for subversion.
Washington issued the promise after the 45 activists, from an original group of 47, were jailed for between four years and two months and 10 years over their roles in a plot to overthrow the Hong Kong government in 2020. Former legal scholar Benny Tai Yiu-ting received the stiffest sentence for masterminding an unauthorised legislative “primary” election to subvert state power.
The Hong Kong government weighed in on Wednesday, following US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller’s comments over the defendants being “aggressively prosecuted” and now facing “life-altering imprisonment simply for their peaceful participation in political activities” protected under the Basic Law, the city’s mini-constitution.
“In response, the Department of State is taking steps to impose new visa restrictions on multiple Hong Kong officials responsible for implementation of the national security law,” Miller said on Tuesday.
Washington called on Hong Kong to “immediately and unconditionally” release the 45 figures and other similarly detained “political prisoners”.
“These harsh sentences erode confidence in Hong Kong’s judicial system and harm the city’s international reputation,” Miller said.
