In 2020, John Lee was sanctioned by the U.S. Department of Treasury for his role as Hong Kong’s Secretary for Security, when the Hong Kong government crackdown against peaceful protestors who were using their voices against the draconian National Security Law (NSL). John Lee was “… involved in coercing, arresting, detaining, or imprisoning individuals under the authority of the…[NSL]… as well as being involved in its development, adoption, or implementation.” Due to his status as a sanctioned individual, John Lee is not allowed to visit the United States unless given a waiver by the administration.

The Sate Department initially confirmed with lawmakers that they were planning to invite Lee to the November 2023 San Francisco APEC meeting. While they have since amended the comment regarding the invitation for John Lee, the State Department has yet to commit to barring entry by John Lee to the November APEC meeting.

With bipartisan and bicameral support in key congressional committees, we urge you to voice the same concern to your congressional representatives, and make sure our opposition against John Lee's APEC visit will be acknowledged, and result in concrete action by the Biden Administration.