The theory of special relativity does not say 'you can't exceed the speed of light(unless you have a really big rocket)'. It presents a theoretical limit. Likewise the Chinese room doesn't state that consciousness is an intractable engineering problem, but an impossibility.

But the way Searle formulates his argument, by not defining what consciousness is, he essentially gives himself enough wiggle room to be always right - he's essentially making the 'No True Scotsman' fallacy.