HONG KONG - The Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Monday strongly condemned the so-called "sanctions" announced by the United States on six people, including the head of a central authority department and several others in the HKSAR.

The US action wantonly damaged the rule of law and the high degree of autonomy of Hong Kong

The US action wantonly damaged the rule of law and the high degree of autonomy of Hong Kong and blatantly provoked the Chinese government and the Chinese people safeguarding national interests, a spokesperson for the liaison office said in a statement.

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The spokesperson said the hegemonic move of the United States, based on lies and filled with bias and double standards, is bound to be futile.

The Monday statement is a response to sanctions imposed by the departing US administration on Friday. The six sanctioned officials include Tam Yiu-chung, the Hong Kong delegate to the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, and You Quan, one of the nation’s top officials on Hong Kong and Macao affairs. 

Meanwhile, the office also voiced its firm support to the HKSAR government and the Hong Kong Police, who have promptly and resolutely responded to the so-called sanctions by stating they will continue to carry out their glorious mission of safeguarding national and local security without fear.

READ MORE: Liaison Office backs police action in Hong Kong

HKMAO voices strong opposition

In Beijing, a Chinese government spokesperson condemned on Monday the so-called US sanctions imposed on officials of the central and HKSAR governments, saying that it is time for US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to end his sanction tricks.

The spokesperson for the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office (HKMAO) of the State Council made the remarks after the US Department of State imposed so-called sanctions following the detention of Benny Tai and others by the Hong Kong police for suspected violations of the law on safeguarding national security in the HKSAR in accordance with the law.

Voicing strong opposition to the "sanctions," the spokesperson called the move a serious interference in China's internal affairs.