NPC Has Undermined HK's Electoral System, Says US

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday that the release of the latest update to the Hong Kong Autonomy Act report shows that China's National People's Congress unilaterally undermined Hong Kong's electoral system in its March 11 decision.

Blinken said the report identified 24 Hong Kong and mainland officials whose actions have reduced Hong Kong's autonomy.

They include NPC Standing Committee member Tam Yiu-chung and several senior officials from the police's national security department.

Blinken added that foreign financial institutions which knowingly conduct significant transactions with these officials would be subject to sanctions.

The National People's Congress approved on March 11 a draft decision to overhaul Hong Kong's electoral system, further reducing democratic representation in the city's institutions and introducing a mechanism to vet politicians' loyalty to Beijing. (Reuters)