Hong Kong centrist Third Side party plans US visit to ‘explain the situation’ in city and address any security law misunderstandings

Third Side vice-chairman Casper Wong reveals plan after the group’s leaders meet Gregory May, the US consul general in Hong Kong and Macau

He says US diplomat responded positively to potential trip by a ‘youth exchange delegation’ in the latter half of year

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Lawmaker Tik Chi-yuen (second left) was among Third Side leaders who met US diplomats including Gregory May (third left) on Thursday. Photo: Third Side

Published: 7:30am, 3 May 2024Updated: 2:48pm, 3 May 2024

A centrist Hong Kong political party is planning to send a delegation to the United States later this year to explain the local situation and address any misunderstandings arising from the enactment of the city’s domestic national security law.

Third Side vice-chairman Casper Wong Chun-long revealed the plan on Thursday after the group’s core leaders met US consul general in Hong Kong and Macau Gregory May.

Wong said the US diplomat responded positively to the potential trip by a “youth exchange delegation” in the latter half of 2024 and agreed to connect the Hong Kong politicians with American counterparts who had been following the city’s development.

A photo provided by the party showed the lunch meeting was also attended by Roxie Houge, chief of the US consulate’s economic and political section, and consul Andrew Riplinger. Third Side chairman and lawmaker Tik Chi-yuen was also present.

“Hong Kong’s politics won’t be the main focus in our plans, but we are committed to explaining the situation in Hong Kong after the enactment of Article 23 and dispel any misunderstandings,” Wong told the Post.

He was referring to the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance which came into effect on March 23 and was mandated under Article 23 of the city’s mini-constitution, the Basic Law.

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