US House passes bill to sanction Chinese banks over Hong Kong

The US House of Representatives passed legislation on Wednesday that would penalise banks doing business with Chinese officials who implement a national security law that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called a “brutal, sweeping crackdown” on Hong Kong.

The measure passed by unanimous consent, reflecting concern in Washington over China’s enactment of a security law seen as ending the autonomy that allowed the former British colony to thrive as an international financial centre.