COVID-19 Positive Hong Kong Chief Executive Sits Next to Xi Jinping at APEC

Hong Kong Government "Chief Executive John Lee Tests Positive for COVID-19"
Spoke with President Xi Without Wearing a Mask at APEC Event

On the 17th (local time), at the welcome dinner of the APEC Summit in Bangkok, Thailand, Chinese President Xi Jinping (center) and Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee are having a conversation without wearing masks. [Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] John Lee, the Chief Executive of Hong Kong, tested positive for COVID-19 after returning from attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit held in Bangkok, Thailand. Notably, Lee was reported to have been beside Chinese President Xi Jinping at various events.

On the 21st, the Hong Kong government stated, "Lee tested positive in a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test conducted at Hong Kong International Airport upon his return the previous night," adding, "He is currently in isolation following the guidelines of the health authorities." They continued, "All members of his entourage tested negative," but added, "They will also work from home until the relevant analysis by the health authorities is completed."

Lee is reported to be experiencing mild fever and sore throat symptoms. He has received four doses of the Sinovac vaccine.

According to photos distributed earlier by the Hong Kong government, Lee stood next to President Xi at the APEC summit welcome dinner on the 17th. During the summit on the 18th and 19th, he sat beside President Xi. Neither of them wore masks. Additionally, he engaged in conversations without masks with Wang Yi, China's Foreign Minister, other Chinese government officials, and various heads of state and dignitaries attending APEC.

The Hong Kong government also reported that rapid antigen tests conducted during Lee’s four-day stay in Bangkok were all negative.

Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, responded to questions about President Xi’s health at a regular briefing by stating only, "The Chinese delegation visiting foreign countries always follows COVID-19 prevention regulations."

Bloomberg News reported, "President Xi has not appeared in public since returning from attending the APEC and G20 summits," and explained, "With Cuban President Miguel D?az-Canel scheduled to visit China on the 24th, attention is focused on whether President Xi’s next public appearance will break the current prevention regulations." This is because China applies strict quarantine rules even to close contacts of COVID-19 cases.

Meanwhile, both China and Hong Kong have recently seen a surge in COVID-19 cases. Hong Kong reported 7,286 new infections on the day, with daily new cases recently rising to around 8,000. China, which has maintained a strict 'zero COVID' policy, is also facing an emergency as daily new infections have exceeded 20,000 consecutively.