CHINESE OFFICIALS SANCTIONED OVER HONG KONG

WASHINGTON The U.S. imposed sanctions on Friday on seven deputy directors from China's Hong Kong liaison office over Beijing's crackdown on democracy there.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, pictured, said China over the past year had “systematically undermined” Hong Kong's democratic institutions, delayed elections, disqualified elected lawmakers from office and arrested thousands for disagreeing with government policies.

The Treasury Department referred to a separate updated business advisory that highlighted concerns about the impact on international companies of Hong Kong's national security law.

The advisory said companies face risks associated with electronic surveillance without warrants and the surrender of corporate and customer data to authorities.

The U.S. has already imposed sanctions on Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam.

President Joe Biden said Thursday Beijing had broken its commitment on how it would deal with Hong Kong since it returned to Chinese control in 1997.