U.S. sanctions on HK officials called 'groundless'

The sanctioning of six government officials in Hong Kong by the United States has drawn sharp criticism from Chinese officials and other observers of bilateral ties.

"The U.S. side is in no position to make groundless accusations on this matter. We urge the U.S. side to respect the facts, stop meddling in Hong Kong affairs and interfering in China's internal affairs, and stop smearing Hong Kong's democracy and rule of law," the Chinese embassy in Washington said in a statement Monday.

On Monday, the U.S. announced sanctions against the officials of Chinese central government agencies in Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government and released the "2025 Hong Kong Policy Act Report", alleging the officials were linked to entities or actions that engaged "in the coercing, arresting, detaining or imprisoning of individuals" under the authority of the Hong Kong national security laws.

The six officials sanctioned are Dong Jingwei, director of the Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR; Paul Lam Ting-kwok, secretary for justice; Raymond Siu Chak-yee, commissioner of police; Sonny Au Chi-kwong, secretary-general of the Committee for Safeguarding National Security in HKSAR; and two assistant police commissioners in national security — Dick Wong Chung-chun and Margaret Chiu Wing-lan.

Guo Jiakun, a newly appointed spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, hosted a news briefing in Beijing, saying the "Hong Kong Policy Act Report" is "composed of falsehoods and disinformation" and is a "vicious attack" on China's "one country, two systems".

Huiqiu Wu, chairman of the board of the Association of the Promotion of Peaceful Unification of China in Washington, told China Daily on Tuesday that the sanctions are "very unwise".

"Hong Kong is China's Hong Kong, and the U.S. government's use of its own domestic law to impose sanctions on other countries is really long-arm jurisdiction and has no legal effect," Wu said.

Wu said the sanctions unnecessarily escalate tensions between China and the United States, undermining the mutual trust and cooperation that both nations and their peoples desire.

"We have clearly seen from overseas that since the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law and the National Security Ordinance, the city has enjoyed greater stability, economic growth and a thriving business environment.

"The rights and freedoms of its people remain fully protected. Looking at Hong Kong with tinted glasses often leads to a very wrong conclusion," Wu said.

The embassy statement also said that the "SAR police have taken lawful actions against overseas anti-China rioters, and the SAR judicial authorities have independently and impartially tried national security cases following legal procedures".

The Hong Kong office of China's Foreign Ministry said the sanctions again exposed the ill intention of the U.S. to undermine the city's prosperity and contain China's development.

Anthony Moretti, department head and an associate professor in the Communication and Organizational Leadership Department at Robert Morris University, said because the U.S. has built a negative narrative about China, it has to feed it at every opportunity.

"That means whether the issue relates to Hong Kong, Taiwan, the military, trade or something else, China must always be criticized," Moretti told China Daily.

"Viewing Hong Kong through a biased lens only leads to misguided conclusions. U.S. officials should assess the situation objectively to avoid damaging their own credibility with unfounded accusations. Constructive dialogue, not confrontation, is the path to mutual benefit and a stable bilateral relationship," Wu added.