Beijing puts fresh restrictions US diplomats in Hong Kong

Further straining bilateral relations, China has placed new restrictions on US envoys meeting officials or academics.

Chinese President Xi Jinping. The latest moves by China to further restrict diplomats in Hong Kong heightens tensions between the US and China. Picture: Xie Huanchi/Xinhua/AFP

US diplomats must now seek approval from Beijing before they can meet government officials or university academics in Hong Kong. The latest measures ordered by China further strain bilateral relations.

Nearly a month ago the Trump administration, seeking a “rebalanced” relationship with Beijing, restricted the ability of Chinese diplomats to travel, hold meetings with academics and host cultural events in the US. Beijing responded by promising similar restrictions on US diplomats in mainland China and Hong Kong.

US diplomats already faced restrictions in China but this is the first time that they have faced such restrictions in the former British territory. The US State Department said it further undermined Hong Kong’s autonomy.

Details of the rules came after Felix Chung, leader of the pro-business Liberal Party in Hong Kong, told the Chinese foreign ministry that Hanscom Smith, the US consul-general, had invited him for talks. Mr Chung was told that “the US consulate-general in Hong Kong has to inform [the Chinese foreign ministry] before meeting members of Hong Kong’s political parties”, the South China Morning Post reported.

The paper said that the measures state: “the US consul-general in Hong Kong, his successors or any personnel working on his behalf, must first obtain approval from the Office of the Chinese Foreign Ministry Commissioner in Hong Kong before visiting any Chinese local government facilities or meeting personnel from these institutions.”

It applies to official, private, social and video meetings, and those with public or private educational organisations, societies and their staff.

The Times