29-7-2023 (WASHINGTON) Hong Kong’s Chief Executive John Lee, who is currently facing US sanctions, will not be invited to visit San Francisco during November’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, according to two congressional aides on Friday (Jul 28).
The United States is scheduled to host this year’s APEC gathering, which includes Hong Kong as a member. However, John Lee, the top official in Hong Kong, was placed under US sanctions in 2020 due to his involvement in implementing what Washington considers a “draconian” Hong Kong national security law during his tenure as the city’s security secretary.
In June, Reuters reported that a group of lawmakers, led by Republican Senator Marco Rubio, had written a letter to the US State Department urging them to prohibit Lee from entering the US.
The Washington Post reported on Thursday, based on information from US officials, that the US had made a decision regarding Lee, and on Friday, two congressional aides confirmed to Reuters that the State Department had informed members of Congress that Lee would not receive an invitation.
Senator Marco Rubio expressed his approval of the decision on the messaging platform X (formerly known as Twitter), stating that it was the “right call,” even if it took longer to reach the decision.
“Hosting a sanctioned human rights violator who represses Hong Kongers is a nonstarter,” Rubio asserted.
In its 2020 designation of Lee for sanctions, the US Treasury Department cited his involvement in “coercing, arresting, detaining, or imprisoning” individuals in Hong Kong who had protested against the national security law.
When asked about the decision, a State Department spokesperson stated that the participation of all delegations in APEC events would be in accordance with US laws and regulations and aligned with the spirit and principles of APEC.
“We will work with Hong Kong, China to ensure appropriate participation in San Francisco,” the spokesperson added. However, no further details were provided, except for the fact that US President Joe Biden had already begun sending invitations for the event.
In response to the US decision, China’s Embassy in Washington expressed “strong opposition,” stating that it violated APEC rules and went against commitments made by the US, as noted by Embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu.
The APEC leaders summit is considered a potential venue for bilateral talks between President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping, as both countries aim to stabilize their strained relations.
