John Lee Keeps Hong Kong Sane Amid Sanctions Storm
On Tuesday (Oct 11), Hong Kong’s chief, John Lee, made a crisp statement that will have the U.S. officials second‑guessing their next move. While a Russian oligarch’s mega‑yacht—dogged by a slew of sanctions—was docked near Victoria Harbour, Lee pointed out that the city has “no legal basis” to act on Western sanctions.
Why the Yacht’s Docking Stirs the Pot
- Alexey Mordashov’s 465‑foot Nord (a whopping 141 metres) sailed into sight just off one of the world’s most iconic harbours.
- Valued over $500 million (≈ S$720 million), it’s one of the few superyachts that hasn’t been hauled offshore by Europe.
- The U.S. State Department flagged Hong Kong’s open‑handedness as a potential “reputational risk” for the city’s financial beat.
However, amid the diplomatic heat, John Lee rolled his eyes and said “We cannot do anything that has no legal basis.” He made it clear that Hong Kong will only comply with United Nations‑issued sanctions, not the patchwork of isolation orders from individual governments.
Lee’s Two‑Front Battle
Lee is no stranger to the spotlight. Having been slapped with sanctions himself by the U.S. for his crackdown on local freedoms, he’s typing out a defense that’s part policy and part cheeky defiance.
- “We’ll comply with UN sanctions—that’s our system, that’s our rule of law.”
- He also shouted back at the U.S. for targeting Hong Kong officials—calling the move “barbaric” and saying he’ll “just laugh off the so‑called sanctions.”
What’s Coming Next?
With an international investment summit on the horizon (high‑profile billionaires and CEOs are slated to attend in November), Lee’s comments are set to reverberate beyond the harbor lanes.
In a world where a yacht can become a diplomatic hotspot, Hong Kong’s leader remains oddly calm, like a bartender rolling a perfect shufflecard while the front row chews on “sanctions.” Lee’s message? Stick to the UN playbook, keep the city’s reputation in place, and, if all else fails, give a chuckle to the skeptics.
