More positive steps needed to improve Hong Kong-US ties, John Lee says, adding sanctions have affected efforts to promote city

More positive steps should be taken to improve Hong Kong-US ties, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has said, adding sanctions imposed on him by Washington have affected efforts to promote the city.

Lee on Tuesday said he despised the “unreasonable” sanctions on him, but stressed that Hong Kong would play an active role in fulfilling the agreements struck between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Joe Biden at the Apec summit in San Francisco last week.

“I hope that for the sake of economic development and regional cooperation, proactive actions can be taken to promote positive developments [between Hong Kong and the US],” Lee told reporters before his weekly meeting with the key decision-making Executive Council.

During the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, Xi and Biden agreed to work together on the emerging field of artificial intelligence and controlling the drugs trade, while also resuming military-to-military communication.

Finance chief Paul Chan Mo-po represented Lee at the Apec leaders’ meeting as the chief executive said he could not attend the forum due to “scheduling” issues, despite receiving a personal invitation.

Calling the meeting between Xi and Biden a “positive development” in Sino-US ties, Lee pledged that Hong Kong would do its part to actively implement measures to aid progress.

But Lee noted that trade always involved two parties and any exchanges required participation by both sides, adding the US had greatly benefited from the trade surplus with Hong Kong and commercial activities would help both sides.