HONG KONG -- The Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Monday strongly condemned the so-called "sanctions" announced by the United States on six people, including the head of a central authority department and several others in the HKSAR.

The US action wantonly damaged the rule of law and the high degree of autonomy of Hong Kong and blatantly provoked the Chinese government and the Chinese people safeguarding national interests, a spokesperson of the liaison office said in a statement.

The spokesperson said the hegemonic move of the United States, based on lies and filled with bias and double standards, is bound to be futile.