In connection with the undermining of Hong Kong's autonomy, the US Treasury Department imposed sanctions against the head of its administration, Carrie Lam. The BBC reports this with reference to head of the US Treasury Stephen Mnuchin.
"In 2019, Lam began pushing for amendments to the existing extradition law to allow extradition to mainland China, sparking a series of large-scale opposition demonstrations in Hong Kong," the Treasury Department said in a statement.
Washington believes that by her actions Carrie Lam is implementing Beijing's policies aimed at curbing the freedoms and democratic processes in Hong Kong.
The US restrictive measures also apply to another ten high-ranking officials from Hong Kong and mainland China.
In particular, the head of the Hong Kong police and several Hong Kong politicians were on the US sanctions list.
The Hong Kong government called the US decision an arrogant and barbaric intervention in the internal affairs of China, using Hong Kong as a pawn.
A spokesman for Carrie Lam said the US would not be able to intimidate the chief of staff and her colleagues.
Hong Kong Commerce Minister Edward Yau has warned Washington of retaliation against US companies operating in the region.
