Pompeo said Chinese officials "sabotaging a high degree of autonomy" of Hong Kong would be subject to visa restrictions by the United States.

"I declare a visa restriction on incumbent and retired Chinese officials who are responsible or complicit in undermining Hong Kong's high level of autonomy, which is guaranteed in the British Joint Declaration.

"Family members of these people may be subject to the above restrictions," Pompeo said, but did not identify the person subject to the US visa restriction order.

The decision was made as the United States increased criticism of China as President Donald Trump's campaign was at a critical stage.

"President Trump promised to punish Chinese officials who are responsible for depriving Hong Kong of freedom. We today made a decision to do so," Pompeo said in a statement.

Pompeo accused Beijing of intensifying its efforts to "undermine Hong Kong's autonomy" with a draft national security law and pressure on special zone officials, forcing them to arrest democracy activists and candidates.

The US Secretary of State called on China to respect its commitment to giving Hong Kong "high level of autonomy".

Earlier, the US Senate passed the Hong Kong Autonomy bill, proposed by Senator Van Hollen, which helps US owners increase their ability to punish individuals and organize the implementation of China's Hong Kong security bill.

Last week, China revealed the official provisions of the Hong Kong security bill, which prohibits separatist, subversive, terrorist acts and colluding with foreign or external forces to threaten national security.

Specific penalties for crimes related to new national security laws have not been announced by China.

The bill raised concerns about the fate of a "one-country, two-regime" policy, pledging to Hong Kong a high degree of autonomy when the special zone was handed over to China by the United Kingdom in 1997. However, the North