US sanctions Hong Kong's Chief Carrie Lam over curtailing political freedom

Lam, who works closely with Chinese authorities, has scoffed at the prospect of being targeted by US sanctions

The US is placing sanctions on 11 Chinese officials and their allies in Hong Kong, including Chief Executive Carrie Lam, over their roles in curtailing political freedoms in the former U.K. colony, the Treasury Department said Friday.

“The United States stands with the people of Hong Kong and we will use our tools and authorities to target those undermining their autonomy,” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement.

Lam was sanctioned because she is “directly responsible for implementing Beijing’s policies of suppression of freedom and democratic processes,” the agency said.

The sanctioned individuals include Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and