Hong Kong activists turned away by US consulate had received prior permission to come inside, only to be ‘firmly’ told to leave, group says

A group helping the four says they had previously reached out to the consulate through its emergency hotline

One of the four, who professes to be a US citizen, has accused the consulate of neglecting its obligation to help him

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A security guard stands in front of the Consulate General of the United States earlier this month. Photo: K. Y. Cheng

Published: 11:00pm, 30 Oct 2020Updated: 4:18am, 31 Oct 2020

The four Hong Kong activists who sought protection at the US consulate on Tuesday had discussed their intentions with staff from the diplomatic outpost who gave them the green light to enter the compound before “firmly” asking them to leave, a Britain-based group helping them has alleged.

Three of the activists were seeking asylum, while the fourth, who claims to be a US citizen, is accusing the consulate of neglecting its duty to help him, the Post has learned, raising more questions about a dramatic incident that could have triggered a diplomatic row to further escalate tensions between Beijing and Washington, with Hong Kong in the middle.

The allegations were made by Friends of Hong Kong, the group that was also behind a failed asylum bid by Tony Chung Hon-lam, an activist who was arrested the same day near the consulate on secession charges under the national security law.

The exterior of Consulate General of the United States in Central. Photo: K. Y. Cheng

A spokesman from the US State Department, which oversees the work of American consulates and embassies, would not respond to the allegations directly, citing instead the official line that asylum could only be granted upon the claimant’s arrival in the United States.

“Due to privacy considerations, we cannot comment on our communications with US citizens,” the spokesman said.

Chung, former convenor of the now-defunct pro-independence group Studentlocalism, was arrested by national security police at a Pacific Coffee outlet opposite the US consulate on Garden Road on Tuesday morning. His case is now in court and he has been denied bail.