‘Appalling’ that pro-Beijing newspaper in Hong Kong printed US diplomat’s personal information, ex-envoy Kurt Tong says
- Former US consul Kurt Tong says the Chinese-language newspaper Ta Kung Pao should apologise for ‘stooping to such a level’
- It published the names of an American diplomat’s children and a picture of her meeting with pro-democracy activists
The former top US envoy to Hong Kong criticised a pro-Beijing newspaper in the territory for disclosing the personal details of an American diplomat there, weighing in on an issue that has Washington and Beijing slinging insults at each other.
“I was appalled to see that [Chinese-language newspaper] Ta Kung Pao has stooped to such a level,” said Kurt Tong, who retired as consul general on July 5 and is now a partner at Washington-based risk consultancy The Asia Group.
The newspaper “should immediately apologise”, Tong said.
On Thursday, Ta Kung Pao published personal details about Julie Eadeh, chief of the US consulate’s political unit, including her children’s names, and a photograph of her meeting with pro-democracy activists including Joshua Wong Chi-fung.
Shortly afterwards, US State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus accused the Chinese government of being behind the disclosure of Eadeh’s personal information, describing Beijing as a “thuggish regime”. China hit back on Friday, calling Washington’s response “gangster logic”.
Wong served more than 100 days in jail for his activism in relation to the 2014 “umbrella movement” in Hong Kong, which occupied key thoroughfares for 11 weeks to push for full democracy.