Not allowing Li Jiachao, who has been sanctioned by the US, to go to San Francisco? Hong Kong: Chief Executive's Representative for Safeguarding National Security | Member | Li Jiachao
The 2023 APEC Leaders' Informal Meeting will be held in San Francisco, USA in November of this year. Due to the Trump era, the United States imposed sanctions on 11 Hong Kong SAR government officials, including the then Director of Security, Lee Ka chao. So, whether Hong Kong Chief Executive Li Jiachao, who has been sanctioned by the United States, can attend the APEC meeting in the United States this year has attracted much attention from the outside world.
According to Reuters, some members of the United States Senate and House of Representatives sent a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken on June 7 local time, threatening to "prohibit the US sanctioned Chief Executive Li Jiachao of Hong Kong from attending the APEC Summit in November".
Regarding the remarks made by American politicians, the Hong Kong Chief Executive's Office responded on June 8th, stating that Li Jiachao led the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to firmly fulfill its responsibility to maintain national security, being upright and righteous. "Any government official of a country who upholds their own national security is a matter of course, a duty that should be taken for granted.".
The Hong Kong Chief Executive Office stated that Li Jiachao had previously stated that the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is not affiliated with any particular country or economy and has its own rules and customs. Any organizer must invite members to attend the meeting in accordance with the organization's rules and customs. Hong Kong has always participated in conferences under the name "Hong Kong, China", and is also a member of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). The organizers have a responsibility to send invitations, and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region will also attend conferences in accordance with the rules and customs of the APEC.
![Not allowing Li Jiachao, who has been sanctioned by the US, to go to San Francisco? Hong Kong: Chief Executive's Representative for Safeguarding National Security | Member | Li Jiachao](https://a5qu.com/upload/images/f16cef5c7de1c262f159d03750997f8c.jpg)
On June 8th, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Wang Wenbin, stated that the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) has its own organizational rules, and the host country has a responsibility to ensure the smooth participation of representatives from all members. This year, the host country of APEC, the United States, has pledged to fulfill its host responsibilities, comply with APEC related rules and procedures, and provide convenience for APEC member representatives to attend the conference in the United States. We believe that the US will fulfill its commitments and ensure that representatives from all members of APEC, including Hong Kong, China, attend the meeting smoothly.
After taking office in July last year, Li Jiachao led a delegation to attend the APEC Leaders' Informal Meeting in Thailand at the end of last year and met with local political and business leaders.