John Lee warns of ‘strong’ response if US advances bill targeting Hong Kong trade offices

Hong Kong’s leader has doubled down on Beijing’s warning that Washington might face “strong and resolute” retaliatory measures if the US Congress presses ahead with a bill that could shut the city’s three trade offices in the country. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu on Tuesday also reiterated that the threatened closure of the city’s outposts would damage trade relations, delivering political gains for politicians at the expense of American businesses. “These are political tactics to suppress the development of China and also Hong Kong.

These are shameless and ugly political tactics,” Lee told reporters before a weekly meeting of the key decision-making Executive Council. “If the US is determined to go its way, then our country has already indicated that we will retaliate, and we’ll retaliate with strong and resolute measures,” he warned without further elaboration. He also maintained that the city remained attractive to businesses, noting that authorities had assisted more than 350 foreign companies with setting up in the city in the first seven months of this year, marking a 40 per cent year on year increase, with American firms ranking third in terms of number.



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