THE Chinese government demanded today that the United States invite Hong Kong’s leader to an economic conference in San Francisco.

A news report by the Washington Post says the province’s Chief Executive John Lee would be barred from the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) meeting in San Francisco in November.

The sanctions were imposed on him in 2020 for his alleged role in quelling Western-backed anti-government protests in his previous role as Hong Kong’s top police official.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry demanded Washington lift the “illegal and unreasonable” sanctions on Mr Lee, which it called “bullying that seriously violates the basic norms of international relations.”

Ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning said: “We demand that the US side immediately correct its wrong move, lift the sanctions against the chief executive and other officials of the SAR, fulfil the due responsibility as APEC host, and invite Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu to the meeting.”

Mr Lee’s office in Hong Kong said the United States was “obliged to fulfil its basic responsibilities as a host” and should follow the usual APEC practice by inviting him.

“APEC meetings do not belong to any country or economy,” the office said in a statement.

The Washington Post cited US officials as dismissively saying Hong Kong could send another representative to APEC.