The American government has noticed that the Chinese government continues to ignore its fictional promise to ensure that the people of Hong Kong enjoy a “high degree of autonomy, democratic institutions, and rights and freedoms” at least until 2047.
U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has “again certified,” as quoted in a March 29, 2024 State Department press release, “that Hong Kong does not warrant treatment under U.S. laws in the same manner as the laws were applied to Hong Kong before July 1, 1997.”
Over the past year, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has continued to take actions against Hong Kong’s promised high degree of autonomy, democratic institutions, and rights and freedoms. This includes Hong Kong authorities’ recent enactment of legislation under Article 23 of the Basic Law, which has broad and vaguely defined provisions regarding “sedition,” “state secrets,” and interactions with foreign entities. These provisions could both be used to eliminate dissent inside Hong Kong and applied outside of its borders as part of the PRC’s ongoing campaign of transnational repression….
In response, the Department of State is announcing that it is taking steps to impose new visa restrictions on multiple Hong Kong officials responsible for the intensifying crackdown on rights and freedoms, pursuant to Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
We are committed to continuing to work with Congress and the international community to stand with the people in Hong Kong in calling for the restoration of Hong Kongers’ protected rights and freedoms, the immediate release of those unjustly detained or imprisoned under the National Security Law, and respect for the rule of law.
The Department of State is imposing visa restrictions on Hong Kong officials who have been cracking down on the freedom of Hongkongers this year. These Hong Kong officials will not be allowed to travel to the United States right now.
From this we may infer that many of the Hong Kong officials busy implementing the current raft of repressive measures had until now been able to obtain such visas.
Even if not all of the officials helping destroy Hong Kong freedom in 2024 had not also been helping destroy Hong Kong freedom in 2023 and earlier, surely the two groups of officials must much overlap. So isn’t this expression of disapproval—withholding access to U.S. visas—a bit belated in addition to being a bit weak?
