Matthew Cheung Slams 'barbaric' US Sanctions

Acting Chief Executive Matthew Cheung has described US sanctions on four Hong Kong and mainland officials as “unacceptable" and "outrageous”, adding that the authorities will not be intimidated by such actions.

Speaking ahead of the weekly Executive Council meeting on Tuesday, Cheung – who was standing in for Chief Executive Carrie Lam who was visiting Macau – described Washington's move as "barbaric interference" in Hong Kong and mainland affairs.

"We are doing our job to protect, safeguard Hong Kong and the national security. The nation’s security absolutely is incumbent on Hong Kong officials to do that, incumbent on Hong Kong people. To safeguard national security is our obligation, we are obliged to do it, we should do it. So we are not going to be intimidated by any of these actions, in fact this is clearly breaching international practice, apart from international law," he said.

"My comment is very simple, that these actions entirely unacceptable, outrageous, and I would use the word barbaric interference in Hong Kong’s internal affairs."

Cheung’s remarks come after the US announced sanctions on another four Hong Kong and mainland officials – deputy police commissioner Edwina Lau and senior superintendent Steve Li of the police's national security department, deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office Deng Zhonghua, and deputy director of the Office for Safeguarding National Security Li Jiangzhou.

The four are being barred from travelling to the US and any of their US-related assets will be blocked.

In August, the US slapped sanctions on the CE and 10 other Hong Kong and mainland officials for their roles in imposing the national security law.

Those hit by the first round of sanctions included Police Commissioner Chris Tang, his predecessor Stephen Lo, Justice Secretary Teresa Cheng, Security Secretary John Lee, Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office director Xia Baolong, his deputy Zhang Xiaoming, and liaison office chief Luo Huining.