The State Department and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A person familiar with the matter said the group would likely include officials from Hong Kong as well as the mainland. Hong Kong's Beijing-backed government last month expelled four opposition members from its legislature after China's parliament gave city authorities new powers to curb dissent. In November, the State Department and Treasury Department imposed sanctions on four more Chinese officials in Hong Kong's government and security establishment, barring them from traveling to the United States and blocking any US-related assets they might have. Beijing has previously condemned US sanctions related to Hong Kong, calling it interference in China’s internal affairs.

Source: bd News24 December 07, 2020 01:07 UTC