Lawmakers Say Sanctioned HK Official Should Be Barred From APEC Summit in US

The U.S. should bar Hong Kong’s chief executive, John Lee Ka-chiu, from entering the U.S. later this year because of his placement on the Treasury Department’s Specially Designated Nationals List, lawmakers said this week. Sens. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and Reps. Chris Smith, R-N.J., and Jim McGovern, D-Mass., said they are concerned the Hong Kong official could visit California in November as the U.S. hosts the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), which includes China as a member. They said the State Department should make a “clear announcement that human rights violator John Lee will not be invited to APEC, in accordance with U.S. sanctions law.”

In a July 7 letter to Rubio, the State Department said it is “deeply concerned” about the “undermining of Hong Kong’s autonomy” and John Lee’s “negative impact on Hong Kong’s judicial independence and the rule of law.” The agency “has not issued invitations and has not made any commitments regarding invitations” to APEC, the letter said. “As host of APEC 2023, we have committed to work towards participation of delegations from the 21 member economies in APEC events but have made clear this participation must be in accordance with U.S. law and regulations, including with respect to sanctions.”