Beijing to require consulates in Hong Kong to hand over personal information of city-hired staff by October 18
- Policy in line with mainland China’s treatment of diplomatic offices and requires Hong Kong-hired consulate staff to give information such as ID card numbers
- ‘We need time to assess how to deal with the order while protecting staff privacy,’ diplomat says after receiving letter from China’s foreign ministry arm in city
Beijing will require consulates in Hong Kong to hand over the personal data of all locally employed staff by next month, a move that will bring the city in line with how the central government treats diplomatic offices.
The Post on Tuesday obtained a letter from the Commissioner’s Office of China’s Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong dated a day earlier that outlined the requirement for personal information, such as job titles, home addresses, travel documents and identity card numbers, to be submitted to authorities by October 18.
The new policy from the office, which acts as China’s foreign ministry arm in Hong Kong, covered all staff hired in the city, including permanent residents and those living in the city under visa arrangements.
Several diplomats told the Post they had received the letter, but would need time to discuss their response to the requirement.
“The commissioner’s office never requested such information from us before, only in mainland China. Beijing is increasingly aligning its treatment of foreign missions in Hong Kong with those in the mainland,” said a veteran diplomat, who asked to remain anonymous.
Hong Kong has 63 consulates and 53 honorary ones.
Another diplomat expressed fears over what consequences city-recruited staff could face if they refused to hand over their private information to Chinese officials, who had not specified the purpose behind the requirement.
“We need time to assess how to deal with the order while protecting staff privacy,” he said.