Exclusive | American diplomats in Hong Kong want to meet local officials or politicians? Get permission from Beijing’s foreign ministry, new directive demands
- Pro-business lawmaker Felix Chung says he was told to turn down meeting with US envoy as it was inappropriate time
- Opposition lawmakers, however, say new retaliatory measure is aimed at American envoys, not them
American diplomats must obtain approval from Beijing’s foreign ministry before they can meet with Hong Kong government officials or personnel from the city’s educational institutions and societies, the Post has learned, a retaliatory measure put in place by the central government.
Felix Chung Kwok-pan, leader of the pro-business Liberal Party, was told by Beijing’s foreign affairs arm in Hong Kong two weeks ago that it was not an appropriate time for him to meet the US’ top envoy to Hong Kong, who had sought a discussion with him.
“The Office of the Chinese Foreign Ministry Commissioner in Hong Kong told me the US consulate general in Hong Kong has to inform them before meeting members of Hong Kong’s political parties,” he told the Post.
While Chung took the initiative of telling the commissioner beforehand, two pan-democratic lawmakers said they would not bother to do so, as the requirement applied to the American envoys, not them.