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

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US sanctions on 39 officials from Hong Kong and mainland China will remain in place according to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Rubio also noted that a national emergency declaration on Hong Kong expired, reflecting changed circumstances without lifting sanctions.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that there will be no change to the remaining sanctions on 39 Hong Kong and mainland Chinese officials in the “near future”, while acknowledging the issue came up in a meeting with Foreign Minister Wang Yi. 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...