The Hong Kong government on Wednesday (Nov 11) disqualified four pro-democracy lawmakers in accordance with Beijing’s relevant regulations. The move triggered the mass resignation of 15 pan-democratic lawmakers in the Legislative Council. U.S. National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien said in a statement the same day that the United States will continue to use all powers granted under U.S. laws and regulations to impose sanctions against those who undermine Hong Kong’s freedom.
Below is a full translation of the statement.
Beijing’s recent action to disqualify the democratic members of the Hong Kong Legislative Council leaves no doubt that the Chinese Communist Party has blatantly violated its international commitments under the Sino-British Joint Declaration and its commitments to the people of Hong Kong, including those under the Basic Law. “One country, two systems” is now just a shroud for the Communist Party of China to expand one-party dictatorship in Hong Kong. The United States will continue to use all of its powers under the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, the Hong Kong Autonomy Act and the Executive Order on Hong Kong’s Normalization to identify and sanction those responsible for extinguishing Hong Kong’s freedom.
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