China Slaps Sanctions On US Over HK Arrests

China has slapped sanctions on the United States after six Hong Kong and mainland officials were singled out by Washington over the arrests of more than 50 pan-democratic figures this month over last year's Legco primaries.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Monday Beijing had decided to impose sanctions on US officials, members of Congress, personnel at non-governmental organisations and their family members over their "nasty behaviour" on the Hong Kong issue.

Hong Kong's sole representative on the National People's Congress Standing Committee, Tam Yiu-chung, along with several senior national security police officers and mainland officials, were sanctioned by Washington last week.

Dozens of pro-democracy camps were arrested for their alleged involvement in the pan-democratic camp's primary vote for the now-delayed 2020 Legco election on suspicion of subverting the state. Most of the suspects have been freed on bail without charge. (Additional reporting by Reuters)