AFP
A funding body in Hong Kong on Wednesday warned the city’s vibrant arts sector that it will soon face much greater scrutiny under a draconian national security law forbidding public criticism of the city’s government or the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
The Hong Kong Arts Development Council said in a statement on its website that it was obliged to ensure that any artists, exhibits, or projects using its funding complied with Hong Kong law, including the national security law imposed by Beijing on the city from July 1, 2020.
“If the grantee violates the terms and conditions of the agreement in any way, like advocating independence of Hong Kong and overthrowing the Government, [we may] postpone, adjust, or suspend grant disbursement for the grant year,” the Council warned.
Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images
The sanctions come just ahead of the first face-to-face talks between China and the United States since President Joe Biden took office perhaps an early signal that the tensions built up over the previous administration aren’t likely to disappear.
The US imposed these sanctions in the wake of China’s most recent crackdown on Hong Kong’s democracy and freedoms. Last week, the Chinese government agreed to new electoral rules in its rubber-stamp parliament, changes that attempt to stamp out the territory’s pro-democracy opposition and guarantee that pro-Beijing “patriots” consolidate power there.
Among those targeted with sanctions are high-ranking officials in the National People’s Congress Standing Committee and officials in the Hong Kong Police Force’s National Security Division and the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office.
US sanctions Chinese officials over the latest crackdown on Hong Kong s democracy msn.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from msn.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
China's ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai has said concerns over the erosion of Hong Kong's democracy are "completely unnecessary". In an opinion piece for the South China Morning Post on Sunday, the ambassador defended an overhaul of the city's electoral system that critics fear will freeze out dissenting voices. A resolution rubber-stamped by the National People's Congress last week will effectively shut out opposition members deemed.