CUE THE WORLD’S SMALLEST VIOLIN: Hong Kong leader admits U.S. sanctions impeding her credit card use.

Hong Kong’s leader says using her credit cards had been “hampered” by the United States slapping sanctions on her in response to a sweeping new security law in the financial hub. Chief Executive Carrie Lam was personally targeted, along with 10 other senior city officials, in the toughest U.S. action on Hong Kong since Beijing imposed the new law on the territory in late June.

The move by Washington freezes the American assets of the 11 officials and criminalises any financial transactions in the U.S.

The U.S. Treasury Department said Lam was sanctioned because she is “is directly responsible for implementing Beijing’s policies of suppression of freedom and democratic processes”.

Much like Lam herself, the “security” law was imposed on Hong Kong without the consent of the people.