US reshuffles Hong Kong sanctions after national emergency expires

WASHINGTON, July 17, 2026 — The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control reworked its Hong Kong-related sanctions lists after the national emergency declared under Executive Order 13936 expired on July 14. The change does not end sanctions imposed under separate Hong Kong statutes.

The Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019 and the Hong Kong Autonomy Act of 2020 remain in effect. OFAC said it removed from the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List people designated under Executive Order 13936 whose property had been blocked solely under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.

Individuals who remain sanctioned under the Hong Kong Autonomy Act were added to the Non-SDN Menu-Based Sanctions List. The update contains 39 individual entries, including Hong Kong and Chinese officials.

Property blocked before July 14 remains blocked. The HKAA entries say all property and interests in property of the listed individuals are blocked and transactions with them are prohibited except for imports of goods. They also carry secondary sanctions risk under the act.

For sanctions-screening teams, the update changes where affected names appear without necessarily changing the blocking treatment for people who remain covered by the HKAA. The SDN removals therefore distinguish people whose blocking rested solely on the expired emergency from those still subject to statutory measures.

OFAC plans to amend the Hong Kong-Related Sanctions Regulations in a future Federal Register publication and is reviewing related frequently asked questions and guidance for further website updates.