US Issues Syrian, Hong Kong Sanctions

The Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned 17 Syrian and Lebanese people and entities for operating in Syria’s oil industry and supporting the Bashar al-Assad’s regime oil production network, according to a Nov. 9 press release. The sanctions target Syrian military officials, members of Syria’s Parliament, Syrian government entities and both Syrian and Lebanese people trying to “revive Syria’s deteriorating petroleum industry,” OFAC said.

In addition, the State Department sanctioned four Chinese and Hong Kong officials involved in implementing Beijing's so-called national security law (see 2008070039). The sanctions target Li Jiangzhou, Hong Kong's deputy director of the Office for Safeguarding National Security; Edwina Lau, head of the National Security Division of the Hong Kong Police Force; Steve Li Kwai-Wah, senior superintendent of the police force; and Deng Zhonghua, deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office.