U.S. officials in Hong Kong need approval from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs for meet

The South China Morning Post in Hong Kong quoted sources on the 27th as reporting that if US diplomats in Hong Kong want to meet with Hong Kong government officials, or any educational institution or community person, they must obtain the Office of the Special Commissioner of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Approved, politicians from democratic parties may also be included. This move is obviously in retaliation against the US's requirement that Chinese diplomats stationed in the United States change their scope of activities in the United States to the licensing system.

Zhong Guobin, the leader of the pro-business Liberal Party, told "Nam Morning" that he was informed by the Office of the Commissioner of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong two weeks ago that if the US Consul General in Hong Kong wants to meet with Hong Kong political parties, he must notify and approve in advance; he therefore called the US Consul General Hanscom Smith requested to meet with him to inform the Commissioner's Office, and the Commissioner's Office suggested that he is not suitable for meeting with US officials in Hong Kong at this stage.

However, two pan-democrats such as Yang Yueqiao and Liang Jiajie, members of the Civic Party’s Legislative Council, told Nan Zao that they had not received such notices, presuming that this new rule only applies to US officials, not Hong Kong people. Liang Jiajie said that if he receives an invitation from a US official to meet, he will ask whether the other party has obtained approval from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, otherwise he will not go. However, there is also an anonymous democratic legislator who only met with high-level US officials last week. He said that if there are such meetings in the future, he will not take the initiative to inform China.

According to internal documents obtained by "Nan Zao", the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stipulates that "the US consul general in Hong Kong, his successor, or anyone performing official duties on his behalf, must visit any Chinese local government facilities or meet with personnel from these institutions in advance. Obtained approval from the Office of the Special Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China in Hong Kong.” The document states that the meetings that must be approved include official, private, social, and video conferences, as well as those with "any Chinese public or private educational institutions or associations and their affiliates." Any meeting.

U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo announced earlier this month that it will establish a licensing mechanism for Chinese diplomats in the United States. Diplomats in the United States must obtain prior approval to visit U.S. campuses or meet with local officials; host more than 50 people outside the embassy or consulate The cultural activities of the country must also be reported to the US for approval. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China announced on the 11th that it would take "reciprocal measures" against the personnel of the US embassies and consulates in China or Hong Kong, claiming to be "a legitimate and necessary response to the wrongdoings of the United States," but did not specify the specific measures.