John Lee almost certain to be absent from APEC summit: VOA quoting U.S. official

A senior U.S. State Department official said invitations have been sent out to members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) to participate in upcoming leaders' meetings in California, but "appropriate representation" for certain leaders who are under U.S. sanctions - including Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu - is being worked out.

Matt Murray, a U.S. senior official for APEC, said in an interview with Voice of America on Monday that 21 economies from APEC will discuss issues including energy security, sustainable agricultural food, women's economic empowerment and health in the summit that begins in mid-November in San Francisco.

When asked if the U.S. is inviting John Lee and Russian President Vladimir Putin - who has been sanctioned since last February for the invasion of Ukraine - to attend the summit, Murray said the U.S. wants to host the meetings not only within the spirit and principles of APEC but also the laws and regulations of the States.

"And so, we have to work through those situations to make sure that they have appropriate representation in San Francisco," he said.

John Lee and ten other Hong Kong officials have been sanctioned by Washington since 2020 for their roles in introducing the national security law. Lee has laughed off the sanctions and stated they have no legal basis in the city.

Lee said last month he is still waiting for an invitation from the United States, as the organizer, for the APEC summit and stressed that Washington should send invitations to leaders according to APEC guidelines and protocol.

"We will attend in accordance with standard protocol," he added. 

Separately, regarding the highly watched potential meeting between President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the margins of APEC, Murray said Washington and Beijing are "working towards" a face-to-face meeting for the two leaders but details are still being worked on.

(Staff reporter and Voice of America)