Paul Chan to attend APEC summit as John Lee to be absent due to 'scheduling issues'

The SAR government announced Tuesday evening that Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po would attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting - which will be held in San Francisco, United States - on behalf of the Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu.

The government said Hong Kong has received the invitation from the host to attend the summit from November 15 to 17, according to convention. As Lee would not be able to participate in the meeting "due to scheduling issues," the government had replied that Chan would represent Hong Kong at the meeting in person.

The announcement came after the U.S. State Department senior official for APEC Matt Murray revealed on Monday that the States is working out to make sure certain leaders who are under U.S. sanctions - including John Lee and Russian President Vladimir Putin - would have “appropriate representation” to attend the summit in San Francisco.

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