25th December 2024 – (Washington) U.S. President Joe Biden has signed key legislation extending the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019 for another five years, maintaining sanctions on key Chinese officials. This extension was included in the massive US$895 billion National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which was signed on Monday. The NDAA is critical legislation that finances and directs policy for the US military and security agencies for the upcoming fiscal year.
The NDAA, often considered a “must pass” bill due to political pressure to ensure timely pay and benefits for military personnel, frequently includes provisions not solely related to defence. This year, it also encompassed extensions for the Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act of 2018 and the Uygur Human Rights Policy Act of 2020.
The Hong Kong legislation has led to significant repercussions, with the U.S. Treasury Department imposing sanctions in 2020 on 11 officials from Hong Kong and mainland China. Among those sanctioned were current Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, who was then the city’s security chief, and former Chief Executive Carrie Lam.
In response to the sanctions, both Hong Kong and Beijing have strongly condemned the U.S. actions. Lee, upon taking office in 2022, asserted that the measures imposed by “some bullying countries” would not hinder his government’s commitment to safeguarding national security.
