US National Security Advisor Criticizes China's 'Disqualification of Hong Kong Legislative Council Members'... Possible Sanctions

Statement on the 11th: "Violation of Sino-British Joint Declaration and Hong Kong Basic Law"
"One Country, Two Systems is just a facade... Exercising all granted powers"

Robert O'Brien, U.S. White House National Security Council (NSC) Advisor
[Photo by Reuters]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] Robert O'Brien, U.S. National Security Council (NSC) Advisor at the White House, strongly condemned the Hong Kong government’s removal of four pro-democracy members from the Hong Kong Legislative Council and hinted at the possibility of new sanctions.

According to Bloomberg and other sources on the 11th (local time), Advisor O'Brien stated in a White House press release that "China’s recent action to disqualify pro-democracy legislators from the Hong Kong Legislative Council leaves no doubt that the Chinese Communist Party has violated the Sino-British Joint Declaration concerning Hong Kong’s return to China, the promises made to the people of Hong Kong, and their international commitments under the Hong Kong Basic Law."

He continued, "'One country, two systems' is now merely a 'veil' that the Chinese Communist Party uses to expand one-party dictatorship in Hong Kong," adding, "The United States will continue to exercise all authorities granted by the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, the Hong Kong Autonomy Act, and executive orders related to the normalization of Hong Kong to identify and sanction those responsible for eroding Hong Kong’s freedoms."

The statement came a day after the Hong Kong government announced via the Gazette that, following the decision of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPCSC), China’s highest legislative body, it would remove four Legislative Council members from their positions.

Bloomberg reported that although Advisor O'Brien did not specify exactly who would be sanctioned, his statement signaled additional sanctions targeting the Chinese Communist Party and Hong Kong government officials. Previously, the U.S. had placed Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam and other Hong Kong government officials, as well as some Chinese Communist Party officials, on the sanctions list due to China’s forced enactment of the Hong Kong National Security Law.