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U.S. OFAC Sanctions Hong Kong Leaders.

Posted onAugust 10, 2020

The U.S. Department of the Treasury has imposed sanctions on 11 individuals in Hong Kong, through Executive Order (E.O.) 13936, “The President’s Executive Order on Hong Kong Normalization,” which President Trump issued on 14 July, 2020. E.O. 13936 declares a national emergency with respect to the situation in Hong Kong, and provides for the imposition of sanctions against the following individuals.

Carrie Lam, Chief Executive, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR)
Chris Tang, Commissioner of Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF)
Stephen Lo, Former Commissioner of HKPF until 2019.
John Lee Ka-chiu, HKSAR Secretary for Security
Teresa Cheng, HKSAR Secretary for Justice
Erick Tsang, HKSAR Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs
Xia Baolong, Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council
Zhang Xiaoming, Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council
Luo Huining, Director of the Hong Kong Liaison Office
Zheng Yanxiong, Director, Office for Safeguarding National Security in Hong Kong
Eric Chan, Secretary General, Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the HKSAR

As a result of these sanctions, all property and interests in property of the individuals named above, and of any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by them, individually, or with other blocked persons, that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons, are blocked and must be reported to the U.S. Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC). Unless authorised by a general or specific license issued by OFAC or otherwise exempt, OFAC’s regulations generally prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons. The prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any blocked person or the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods or services from any such person.

See the full U.S. Department of Treasury press release here.

See more information on Export Controls & Sanctions here.

Contact AM Skinner Solicitors for expert legal advice in all areas of trade law, including export controls, sanctions, import & customs controls, brexit, anti-bribery, ethics, commercial contracts, supply chain and other domestic and international trade law matters.

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