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Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam has said she keeps “lots of cash” at home because she doesn’t have a bank account after the United States imposed sanctions on her in response to a crackdown on free speech and political freedoms. in the city.
Lam was targeted, along with 14 other top city officials, in the toughest US action against Hong Kong since Beijing imposed the new law on the territory in late June.
Washington’s measure freezes US assets of officials and penalizes any financial transaction in the United States.
In an interview with local English-language television channel HKIBC aired late Friday, Lam said she was “using cash every day for all things” after being sanctioned.
“Sitting across from you is an executive director of the Hong Kong SAR [Special Administrative Region] that does not have banking services. I am using cash for all things, ”Lam told HKIBC. “I have lots of cash at home, the government pays me my salary in cash because I don’t have a bank account.”
But Lam said she was willing to avoid dissuading anyone from serving in public office, adding: “It is an honor to be so unjustifiably sanctioned by the United States government.”
Lam earns HK $ 5.21 million (US $ 672,000) a year and is one of the highest paid leaders in the world.
His comments sparked a public reaction, with social media users posting photos of coins in their piggy banks at home to contrast with Lam’s wealth.
Others questioned how his large salary would be transported to his residence in cash.
In August, Lam had told the media that he was facing “a slight inconvenience” as a result of sanctions that hampered his use of credit cards.
