United States ‘taking steps’ to impose fresh visa curbs on Hong Kong officials

The United States on Friday (Mar 30) announced that it is set to impose fresh visa restrictions on Hong Kong officials following the crackdown on rights in the Chinese-ruled city. 

The development came after a new national security law came into force.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken released a statement saying that in the past year China "continued to take actions against Hong Kong's promised high degree of autonomy, democratic institutions, and rights and freedoms."

"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 in a statement.

However, he did not share details on the officials that would be targeted in the latest sanctions.

He stated that the crackdown included the passage of 'Article 23', which is a national security law that is aimed at targeting several crimes such as treason, insurrection, espionage, and theft of state secrets among others.

The announcement by Blinken case after the annual review of Hong Kong's autonomy by Washington.

"This year, I have again certified that Hong Kong does not warrant treatment under U.S. laws in the same manner as the laws were applied to Hong Kong before July 1, 1997," Blinken said.

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Previously, the United States imposed sanctions and visa curbs on Hong Kong officials that Washington has accused of corrupting the rights and freedoms that distinguish the city from the rest of China.

In the year 2020, the United States also withdrew the financial hub's special trade status in a retort to the revocation of 2019's violent, pro-democracy demonstrations.

China's foreign ministry representative in Hong Kong condemns US move

China's foreign ministry representative in Hong Kong "strongly condemned" the latest move by the United States dubbing it as an interference in Beijing's internal affairs.

The annual review of Hong Kong's autonomy was "a farce that nobody was buying... and should be sent to history's trash heap," said a spokesperson for the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.