US extends national emergency rule over HK, citing China’s tightening grip on the city

US president Joe Biden has announced extending a national emergency declaration targeting Hong Kong signed by his predecessor Donald Trump last July for at least one year. 

But the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China hit back today, calling on the US to stop intervening in Hong Kong affairs. 

In a White House statement released on Wednesday, Biden singled out Hong Kong’s situation, including Beijing’s recent actions to undermine the SAR’s autonomy, he accused, for prompting the latest decision. 

“[Hong Kong’s situation] continues to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy and economy of the United States,” the statement reads.

“For this reason, the national emergency declared on July 14, 2020, must continue in effect beyond July 14, 2021.”

The national emergency declaration, invoked under the US’s International Emergency Economic Powers Act, provides the president unchecked powers to implement economic sanctions on external entities deemed as significant threats to the US. 

Under the declaration, the US has so far sanctioned 35 Hong Kong and mainland government officials in connection with the national security law imposed in the SAR last June. 

Last August, the country sanctioned 11 officials, with Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, Secretary for Administration John Lee Ka-chiu and Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah among them. 

Three months later, four more officials were sanctioned, including the National Security Division head Edwina Lau Chi-wai, senior superintendent Steve Li Kwai-wah and the Office for Safeguarding National Security deputy director Li Jiangzhou. 

Last December, 14 vice-chairs of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee were also hit by the US sanctions, such as Wang Chen. 

In January, a further six officials were sanctioned, such as Hong Kong delegate to the National People’s Congress Standing Committee Tam Yiu-chung and Secretariat of the Chinese Communisty Party Secretary You Quan. 

And in March, 24 more officials appeared on the US  sanction list, including National Security Division director Frederic Choi Chin-pang and Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office deputy director Deng Zhonghua. 

Consequences facing these officials include having their US-controlled properties blocked, or barred from travelling to the US. 

Meanwhile, the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the US for extending the national emergency declaration, deeming it as an intervention to Hong Kong affairs. 

“The office gives its strongest grievance and condemnation to such an unrepentant and aggravating intervention by the US,” the office said in a statement today. 

The office also slammed the US for harming Beijing’s sovereignty, safety and interests. 

“The US has supported various anti-China disruptors, hyping around issues related to Hong Kong and grossly violating the principles of international law and international relations,” the office said. 

The office added that Beijing’s determination to maintain Hong Kong’s stability and safeguard China’s sovereignty, safety and interest could not be underestimated.