The blocking of property is foreseen for those involved in “undermining the democratic process and institutions in Hong Kong”.
An executive order signed by U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday provides for the blockage of property of Chinese citizens on U.S. territory due to the situation in Hong Kong. This is stated in the text of the document distributed by the press service of the White House.
The decree “blocks the property and property rights of foreign nationals” who, according to the U.S. authorities, were “directly or indirectly involved in the retention by force, arrest, detention or imprisonment of persons” under the Hong Kong National Security Act, as well as those who were involved in the “drafting, enactment and implementation” of the Act.
The blocking of property is also provided for those involved in “undermining the democratic process and institutions in Hong Kong”, “threatening the peace, security, stability or autonomy of Hong Kong”, involved in censoring or restricting media freedom, arbitrary detention, torture and other human rights violations.
Sanctions also include leaders and representatives of organizations that the U.S. authorities believe were involved in similar activities, as well as those who provided material assistance or acted on behalf of sanctioned individuals and organizations.
The document also provides for the abolition of US trade and economic preferences for Hong Kong. Among other things, privileges for holders of passports of Hong Kong compared to holders of passports of China are abolished, exceptions from export licenses to Hong Kong are revoked. The decree also says that the U.S. intends to suspend a number of intergovernmental agreements, including on the extradition of criminals. The decree also provides for termination of training of police officers from Hong Kong to the United States and revision of the maximum admissible number of asylum seekers from Hong Kong.
Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump said that he signed an executive order to cancel U.S. trade and economic preferences for this special administrative region of China, as well as a bill on sanctions against China in connection with the situation in Hong Kong. This is a bill approved earlier by the U.S. Congress, which, in particular, provides for the introduction of restrictive measures against banks and companies that serve Chinese officials who participated in the adoption of the law on ensuring national security in Hong Kong.