Winner candidates celebrate on stage their success following the Legislative Council election in Hong Kong on December 19, 2021. Photo: VCG

 China on Tuesday expressed firm opposition and strong condemnation over US sanctions on five Chinese officials after the Hong Kong Legislative Council (LegCo) election under the pretext of the so-called Hong Kong Autonomy Act of 2020, slamming such sanctions as "illegal, invalid, ridiculous and disgusting." 

It came after a statement issued by the US Department of State on Monday, which said under the Hong Kong Autonomy Act, the Secretary of State is required to update Congress regularly on foreign persons who are materially contributing to, have materially contributed to, or attempt to contribute materially to the failure of the People Republic of China (PRC) to meet its obligations under the Sino-British Joint Declaration or Hong Kong's Basic Law, as defined by the act. 

It identifies five PRC officials whose actions have reduced Hong Kong's autonomy. The five officials are deputy directors of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Hong Kong, which is the PRC's main entity for projecting its influence in Hong Kong, the statement said. 

At Tuesday's routine press briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said the sanctions seriously violate international law and basic norms, and seriously interfere in China's internal affairs. They are "illegal and invalid," Zhao said. 

Zhao pointed out that the US announced sanctions on seven Chinese officials, including the five mentioned above, in July based on the so-called Hong Kong Business Advisory. China then took reciprocal countermeasures against relevant US personnel in accordance with the Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law. 

"I don't understand why the US is announcing another round of sanctions against these people under the pretext of the so-called Hong Kong Autonomy Law. It's ridiculous and disgusting," Zhao said.

The Commissioner's Office of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong also rebuked the report for being absurd, saying that their vicious attempt to mess up the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and to contain China will never succeed.   

The spokesperson of the commissioner's office pointed out that the so-called Hong Kong Autonomy Act of 2020 is an anti-China bill concocted by the previous US administration. It grossly tramples on international law and basic norms governing international relations and seriously interferes in China's internal affairs, which should have been swept to the dustbin of history long ago.

"Unrepentant, ignoring the fact that the situation in Hong Kong is steadily improving and the mainstream public opinion in Hong Kong is to seek stability and development, the US still uses this evil anti-China law as a political tool to interfere in Hong Kong affairs. It fully exposes its sinister intentions and hegemonic nature of playing the 'Hong Kong card' to contain China's development," the spokesperson said. 

Global Times