Washington has condemned Beijing’s “retaliatory” decision to impose visa restrictions on US officials accused of interfering in Hong Kong affairs.
The US Department of State’s remarks were made on Wednesday, a day after Beijing’s move which was in response to Washington’s threats to impose fresh sanctions on officials after the jailing of 45 opposition figures under the national security law.
“We condemn retaliatory actions by the People’s Republic of China against US officials,” a spokesperson said in a reply to the Post.
“We remain deeply concerned about the deteriorating protections for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the systematic dismantling of Hong Kong’s autonomy under the National Security Law and Article 23 legislation.”
The spokesperson also called on Chinese and Hong Kong authorities to “cease politically motivated prosecutions of Hong Kong residents” and “to immediately release all unjustly detained political prisoners and individuals jailed for their peaceful advocacy for basic rights and freedoms”.
