Hong Kong’s leader unable to use credit cards, banking services after US sanctions

HONG KONG, Nov 28, 2020, AFP. Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said she has “piles of cash” at home, as she has no bank account after the United States slapped sanctions on her in response to a draconian security law China imposed on the city, The Straits Times reported.

She was targeted, along with 14 other senior city officials, in the toughest US 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 15 officials and criminalises any financial transactions in the US.

In an interview with local English TV channel HKIBC aired on Friday (Nov 27) night, Mrs Lam said she was “using cash every day for all the things” after being sanctioned.

“Sitting in front of you is a chief executive of the Hong Kong SAR (Special Administrative Region) who has no banking service made available to her,” Mrs Lam told HKIBC.

“I have piles of cash at home, the government is paying me cash for my salary,” she added.

Mrs Lam added that it was “very honourable” to be “unjustifiably sanctioned” by the US government and does not want to deter anyone from serving in public office.

Earning HK$5.21 million (S$900,000) a year, Mrs Lam is one of the highest paid leaders in the world.

Her remarks sparked a public backlash, with social media users posting photos of coins in their piggy banks at home to contrast with Mrs Lam’s wealth.

Others questioned how her large salary would be transported to her residence in cash.

Mrs Lam had told media in August that she faced “a little bit of inconvenience” from the sanctions which hampered her use of credit cards.