US sanctions on 39 Hong Kong, mainland Chinese officials will remain in place: Rubio

Rubio, Washington’s top diplomat, also said on Thursday that US President Donald Trump had allowed a national emergency declaration on Hong Kong to expire last week after determining that the “circumstances had changed”, though he did not elaborate further.Asked by reporters at an Asean foreign ministers’ summit in Manila why Washington had eased sanctions on some officials and allowed the emergency order to expire, Rubio said: “There wasn’t an easing of sanctions.”He added: “The conditions underlying some of those elements no longer existed.”(From left) Carrie Lam, John Lee, Chris Tang and Chief Secretary Eric Chan still face sanctions. Photo: SCMPTrump issued Executive Order 13936 in July 2020, declaring a national emergency after Beijing imposed the National security law on Hong Kong following months of anti-government protests.