China protests US consul's meetings with Hong Kong opposition figures

Beijing has lodged a formal complaint against the newly appointed US Consul General to Hong Kong and Macau, accusing her of inappropriate associations with prominent anti-China figures shortly after assuming her post.

The diplomatic rebuke came amid scrutiny of a recent reception hosted by Consul General Julie Eadeh, where she invited guests including Anson Maria Elizabeth Chan Fang On-sang and Emily Lau Wai-hing, among others. 

The Hong Kong and Macao Work Office posted articles online that criticized these interactions, portraying Chan and others as key instigators of anti-China unrest and questioning the consul's underlying motives.

On Tuesday, the Foreign Ministry's Commissioner's Office in Hong Kong released a statement detailing how Commissioner Cui Jianchun summoned Eadeh on August 30 for a stern discussion regarding her actions since arriving earlier this year. 

Officials emphasized that such engagements risked undermining international norms, particularly the principle of non-interference in another nation's domestic affairs.

During the meeting, Cui pressed Eadeh to strictly observe core diplomatic protocols and distance herself decisively from individuals seen as opponents of China's policies in Hong Kong. 

He outlined specific guidelines for her conduct, including avoiding meetings with unsuitable contacts, refraining from any collaboration with those labeled as disruptors, prohibiting efforts to stir, support, encourage or finance activities against Beijing's interests, and steering clear of any involvement in legal proceedings related to national security in the territory.

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu echoed these concerns in recent remarks, stressing that consular officials bear a duty to follow global treaties and established diplomatic customs while carrying out their roles. 

He called on envoys to avoid any attempts, overt or subtle, to meddle in China's sovereign matters or local governance, and to honor both national authority and the city's judicial system. 

Lee expressed a desire for all foreign representatives in Hong Kong to contribute positively to stability rather than sowing discord.