In its latest measures countering the US moves, China has barred USdiplomats posted in semi-autonomous Hong Kong from directly seekingmeetings with city’s officials or politicians.
The US diplomats are now required to seek approval from China’s ForeignMinistry before meeting any Hong Kong officials, daily South China MorningPost reported.
According to the Chinese official order, the US diplomats would requireapproval for any official, private, social and video meetings, as well asmeetings with “any Chinese public or private education organization orsociety, and its personnel”.
The new development went public after Hong Kong’s pro-business LiberalParty leader Felix Chung Kwok-pan was told that the US’ Consul General inthe city requires to get permission for meeting him.
The US envoy had sought a meeting with Felix.
Earlier this month, Felix was called by China’s Foreign Ministry office inthe city and told it was not an “appropriate time for him to meet the US’top envoy”.
China has demanded that the US consul general in Hong Kong, “hissuccessors, or any personnel working on his behalf, must first obtainapproval from the Office of the Chinese Foreign Ministry Commissioner inHong Kong before visiting any Chinese local government facilities ormeeting personnel from these institutions.”
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The Chinese move is seen as a retaliation to the US steps restrictingChinese diplomats’ activities in the US.
Earlier this month, the US State Department made it mandatory for theChinese diplomats to seek approval before visiting any US university campusor holding cultural events with more than 50 people outside embassygrounds.
“We’re simply demanding reciprocity. Access for our diplomats in Chinashould be reflective of the access that Chinese diplomats in the UnitedStates have, and today’s steps will move us substantially in thatdirection,” US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said at the time, claimingthat Beijing imposed restrictions on the American diplomats in China.
Up until 1997, Hong Kong was a British colony. At present, it remains asemi-autonomous Chinese territory.
China implemented a contentious national security law this July, triggeringcriticism from the Western countries.
