The US has singled out five deputy directors for undermining Hong Kong’s democracy

The day after the general election of Hong Kong’s legislative Council, the US State Department submitted a report to the Congress, naming five deputy directors of Liaison office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong’s SAR and condemning them for undermining Hong Kong’s democracy. And warned financial institutions that they could face sanctions for dealing with them. China’s Foreign Ministry countered that the just-concluded legislative elections had improved the quality of democracy in Hong Kong.

Us Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday named five deputy directors of Hong Kong’s Liaison Office, Chen Dong, He Jing, Lu Xinning, Tan Tianniu and Yin Zonghua, in a report to the Us Congress in accordance with the Hong Kong Autonomy Act, accusing them of undermining Hong Kong’s autonomy. The United States has warned foreign financial institutions that they will be targeted if they have significant business dealings with individuals involved.

The five, along with Yang Jianping and Qiu Hong, the two other deposed deputy heads of the liaison office, were already sanctioned by the US Treasury in July, including the freezing of their ASSETS in the US.

‘There are different directors in charge of different areas,’ said Joseph Cheng, a retired political science professor at the City University of Hong Kong. ‘The State Department clearly believes that the LIAISON Office plays an important role in Hong Kong’s election affairs.’

Joseph CHENG: “In the eyes of the international community, the legislative Council election in Hong Kong was conducted by the Liaison Office without giving Hong Kong voters a real choice. The five deputy directors of the Liaison Office are in charge of virtually all the work of the office, with each deputy director in charge of different policy departments. Sanctions against the five deputy directors are almost the same as targeting the entire operation of the Liaison Office.”

This is the third time the State Department has submitted a report to congress since the US Congress passed the Hong Kong Autonomy Act last year. A total of 39 Hong Kong and Mainland Chinese officials have been added to the US sanctions list, and no financial institutions have been sanctioned so far.

Cheng Yusuo believes that the U.S. government and relevant financial regulators have a great influence on the global financial system. Financial institutions, both foreign and Hong Kong, generally do not dare to disobey us orders.

Joseph CHENG: “For example, Carrie Lam, the Chief executive of Hong Kong, is one of the government officials that has been sanctioned. She also told the media that when she gets paid every month, she also takes her salary home in cash, which means she cannot enjoy the services of any Hong Kong or foreign financial institutions.”

The US State Department report denounced the erosion of human rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Basic Law and the Sino-British Joint Declaration; And accused Beijing of continuing to undermine Hong Kong’s democratic system.

The United States has accused Beijing of depriving Hong Kong people of a meaningful voice in Sunday’s legislative elections, including cutting the proportion of directly elected seats in the legislature and introducing strict and multiple vetting procedures that give Beijing the power to block opposition candidates.