Gallagher, Rubio Press State Department on Invite to Sanctioned Hong Kong Chief Executive
WASHINGTON, DC – Chairman Mike Gallagher (R-WI) of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) today sent a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken following reports that members of the Biden Administration invited Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee to the United States for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit on November 15.
John Lee is sanctioned by the U.S. government for his role aiding the Chinese Communist Party's destruction of freedom and democracy in Hong Kong. Gallagher and Rubio asked Secretary Blinken to immediately clarify and provide details regarding Lee's reported invitation.
In the letter, Gallagher and Rubio write, "Chief Executive Lee was placed under U.S. sanctions in 2020 pursuant to Executive Order 13936 for his role as Hong Kong’s Security Secretary in implementing the National Security Law imposed by the government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to crack down on pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong... Despite the State Department’s assurance of not inviting Chief Executive Lee to Congress, on November 1st, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region stated that Chief Executive Lee had 'personally received” an invitation from the United States to attend the APEC summit but that he would not be able to attend due to “scheduling reasons.' If true, this would mean that the State Department either deliberately lied to or misled Congress in July or later caved to the PRC demand, or both."
The lawmakers noted the CCP's final erosion of Hong Kong's autonomy since 2019. They also cited Secretary Blinken's own assessment of Hong Kong's dwindling autonomy as required by law under the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019 (PL 116-76). As a result, Gallagher and Rubio urged Blinken to immediately rescind APEC Summit invitations to Hong Kong officials, knowing that they ultimately report to the CCP.
View the lawmakers full letter to Secretary Blinken HERE