Hong Kong condemns US sanctions bill targeting judiciary and security officials

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (‘HKSAR’) government has strongly condemned a new US bill seeking sanctions reviews for 48 Hong Kong judges, prosecutors and security officials, calling it an attempt to ‘intimidate’ those safeguarding national security.

‘The HKSAR despises any so-called “sanctions” and shall never be intimidated. It shall continue to resolutely discharge the responsibility of safeguarding national security,’ a government spokesperson said on 25 January.

The legislation, introduced by California Republican Young Kim and Massachusetts Democrat Jim McGovern, would require the president to determine within 180 days whether named individuals, including Chief Justice Andrew Cheung Kui-nung and Director of Public Prosecutions Maggie Yang Mei-kei, meet criteria for sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act and other US measures.

The draft bill also seeks updated reviews of previously sanctioned officials including Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki, who were designated by the US Treasury in August 2020.

‘Many common law jurisdictions, including western countries such as the US, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, as well as Singapore, have enacted multiple pieces of legislation to safeguard national security,’ the HKSAR spokesperson noted, calling US lawmakers’ actions ‘typical political hegemony and hypocrisy with double standards.’

https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202501/25/P2025012500371.htm

https://youngkim.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/KIMCA_002_xml.pdf