Hong Kong authorities have slammed a brand new US bipartisan invoice that seeks to increase sanctions in opposition to extra metropolis officers, together with judges and prosecutors, accusing American lawmakers of trying to intimidate these safeguarding nationwide safety.
The Hong Kong Sanctions Act was launched by US Representatives Younger Kim and Jim McGovern on Friday, simply days after Donald Trump’s return to the White Home.
The invoice requires the president to evaluate whether or not to sanction sure Hong Kong officers who’re deemed to have violated human rights.
Among the many 48 folks listed within the invoice have been Secretary for Justice Paul Lam Ting-kwok, Chief Justice Andrew Cheung Kui-nung, Sonny Au Chi-kwong, the Secretary Common of town’s Committee for Safeguarding Nationwide Safety, and Commissioner of Police Raymond Siu Chak-yee. These officers had not been sanctioned beforehand.
It additionally included judges and magistrates, together with Joseph Fok, Patrick Chan Siu-oi and Frank Inventory of the Court docket of Last Enchantment, Esther Toh Lye-ping, Alex Lee Wan-tang and Amanda Woodcock of the Excessive Court docket and Chief Justice of the Peace Victor So Wai-tak.
Among the many public prosecutors on the record have been Director of Public Prosecutions Maggie Yang Mei-kei and her deputy Anthony Chau Tin-hang.
Kim, chairman of the US Home’s International Affairs East and Pacific subcommittee, mentioned the invoice was launched to “maintain Hong Kong officers accountable for human rights violations and stand with Hongkongers dealing with persecution underneath Beijing’s nationwide safety legislation”.