U.S. sanctions 14 senior executives on Hong Kong

The United States on Monday imposed economic sanctions and a travel ban on 14 senior officials accused of their role in disqualifying Beijing-Hong Kong-elected opposition legislators last month.

According to the US State Department, sanctions have been imposed on 14 vice chairpersons of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC), the highest decision-making body of the Chinese legislature.

Sanctions bar 14 people and their immediate family members from traveling to the United States and any assets owned by the authorities there. Americans and their companies are prohibited from dealing with them.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a news conference on Tuesday that Beijing would take “every step of the way” against “harmful actions by the US to protect our sovereignty, security and development rights.”

The Hong Kong government last month expelled four members of the opposition from its legislature after the Chinese parliament gave the city such powers.