Lawmakers Ask Biden to Sanction Hong Kong Criminal Prosecutors
The Biden administration should sanction Hong Kong government prosecutors for trying political cases and undermining democracy in the region, U.S. lawmakers said in a July 20 letter to the White House. Hong Kong’s Justice Department and criminal prosecutors have played a significant part in “undermining the rule of law and detaining political prisoners” under its so-called national security law (see 2107160030), and have even created a “Special Duties team” to exclusively handle political cases, said the letter, signed by bipartisan members of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China.
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The U.S. should sanction all prosecutors who “voluntarily try political cases,” and “for the arbitrary detention of individuals for exercising universally recognized human rights,” the letter said. “Such sanctions will be a tangible demonstration of the Administration’s interest in [China] and Hong Kong authorities upholding their international legal obligations as well as international interest in the release of political prisoners.” The lawmakers specifically called on the administration to designate prosecutors under the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act and Hong Kong Autonomy Act. The White House didn’t comment.