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Updated August 10th, 2021 at 19:26 IST

Lam supports anti-sanctions law implementation

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said on Tuesday that she supported the implementation of a local law against foreign sanctions, in line with one enacted earlier this year in mainland China.

Carrie Lam
IMAGE: AP | Image:self
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Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said on Tuesday that she supported the implementation of a local law against foreign sanctions, in line with one enacted earlier this year in mainland China.

Lam said during a news conference that the law should be incorporated via local legislation into the city's mini-constitution, the Basic Law, and that she had conveyed her views to the Chinese government.

"The government will do its best to fulfill its constitutional responsibility, including safeguarding national sovereignty and development interests," she said.

"That's why we support making this national law, which is Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law under Annex 3, and executing it in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region," she said, referring to an annex of the Basic Law.

China in June enacted a broad anti-sanctions law that would allow China to impose retaliatory sanctions in response to sanctions imposed towards Beijing.

It allows for the creation of a counter-sanction list, which would target organizations, individuals and their family members.

Those sanctioned under the law could be subject to visa restrictions, have their property seized or frozen, and be banned on transacting with any Chinese company or individual in China.

The law comes after the U.S. slapped sanctions on dozens of Chinese and Hong Kong officials - including Lam and other Hong Kong ministers - over their role in suppressing Hong Kong's autonomy.

Lam said that implementing the law via the local legislation process would allow for the government to better explain the law and prevent speculation.

Critics have slammed the crackdown on political dissent and a national security law that Beijing imposed on Hong Kong last year, stating that the former British colony is losing the freedoms it was promised when it was handed over to Chinese control in 1997.

Over 100 pro-democracy figures have been arrested under the national security law.

This year, changes have also been made to Hong Kong's election laws to reduce the number of directly elected lawmakers and give a largely pro-Beijing committee the leeway to nominate lawmakers aligned with Beijing.

IMAGE: AP

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Published August 10th, 2021 at 19:26 IST

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