Hong Kong leader-in-waiting John Lee Ka-chiu has promised to adopt a more aggressive approach to countering “fearmongering and badmouthing” by critics of the city, insisting that being sanctioned himself by the United States would not stop him from promoting the city overseas.

In an exclusive interview with the Post ahead of his swearing-in as chief executive on July 1, Lee revealed he would attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in Bangkok this November for a start.