YouTube removes channel promoting future HK leader

HONG KONG, Apr 20 (AFP): YouTube on Wednesday suspended a channel promoting John Lee's uncontested bid to be Hong Kong's next leader, saying the move was required by US sanctions against the ex-security chief.

Lee is expected to be appointed the business hub's new chief executive by a committee of 1,500 Beijing loyalists next month. He faces no rivals.

He has used YouTube, Facebook and Instagram accounts to promote his platform, although no concrete policies have been published so far.

Asked about his removal from YouTube, Lee condemned the US sanctions as "unreasonable bullying" for his work defending China's national security.

"The so-called sanctions... are meant to impose pressure and make me hesitate," he told reporters.