The Hong Kong government has hit back after US lawmakers called for sanctions to be placed on the city’s top officials, saying it would not be “intimidated by such a despicable behaviour.” In a lengthy statement on Thursday night, a government spokesperson said a letter sent by US lawmakers urging Washington to place sanctions on Hong Kong officials contained “untruthful, slandering and smearing remarks” about the city’s efforts to safeguard national security. “[Sanctions] grossly interfere in Hong Kong affairs which are China’s internal affairs, and violate the international law… the HKSAR de…