U.S. bars Hong Kong leader from APEC summit

Beijing hits back against 'unreasonable sanctions' targeting John Lee

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee has been sanctioned by the U.S. in connection with a national security law imposed on the territory by Beijing in 2020. © Reuters

KENSAKU IHARA and KENJI KAWASE, Nikkei staff writers

July 29, 2023 00:16 JST

HONG KONG -- The U.S. government has decided to bar Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee from attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit set for November in San Francisco.

Though Hong Kong is an APEC member, Lee is banned from entering the U.S. for his role in crackdowns against pro-democracy protests under a stringent national security law enacted by Beijing in 2020. The U.S. decided not to allow Lee to attend the upcoming summit due to the sanctions he faces, The Washington Post reported, citing three American officials.