The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government on Saturday "vehemently criticized" U.S. sanctions against officials from the HKSAR government, calling them "shameless and despicable."

"Imposed under the so-called Office of Foreign Assets Control's Specially Designated Nationals List of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the latest U.S. government measure represents blatant and barbaric interference in the internal affairs of the People's Republic of China (PRC), using Hong Kong as a pawn in its ploy to create problems in the China-U.S. relationship, out of self-serving interests of some U.S. politicians," a spokesman from the HKSAR government said in a press release.

The U.S. on Friday imposed sanctions on Hong Kong officials including HKSAR Chief Executive Carrie Lam and Luo Huining, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR.

"Taking advantage of anti-government riots in Hong Kong since June last year, the U.S. Congress and the White House have passed successive laws and pronounced executive order targeting the HKSAR under the pretext of human rights, democracy and autonomy. It should be obvious to and resented by many people, locally and around the world, that the U.S. acts are displaying double standards and hypocrisy, let alone blatantly breaching international laws and basic norms governing international relations," said the spokesman.

"The U.S. government's claim that the imposition of the so-called 'sanctions' was in response to the enactment of the national security law for the HKSAR is a lame excuse that could hardly stand up to challenge."

In the press release, the spokesman also condemned the U.S. government for deliberately making public the personal information of government officials.
      
"Such a deplorable move is no less than state-sanctioned doxxing that is a serious breach of privacy and personal safety. We reserve the right to take any necessary legal action," the spokesman said, adding that "we will fully support the Central Government to adopt counter-measures."

"Speaking on behalf of her senior colleagues who are being targeted, Carrie Lam said that we are discharging an honorable duty to safeguard national security, protecting the life and interests of not only the 7.5 million Hong Kong residents but also the 1.4 billion people in the Chinese mainland. We will not be intimidated," the spokesman said.