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William Zheng

An American official who met opposition activists in Hong Kong during the 2019 anti-government protests is understood to be the top candidate to be the next US consul general in the city.
Julie Eadeh, a career member of the US Senior Foreign Service and now the US consul general in Istanbul, is expected to take over the position from Gregory May, according to a source familiar with the matter.
A second source said Eadeh’s “name” had been “presented to the relevant Chinese authorities”.
“Now she is waiting for the green light from Beijing,” the source said.
Eadeh was the political section chief at the US consulate in Hong Kong and Macau during the 2019 turmoil.
In August of that year, Hong Kong-based pro-Beijing newspaper Ta Kung Pao published photos of her meeting four Hong Kong activists including prominent opposition figure Joshua Wong, saying the images were evidence that “foreign forces led by the United States have become increasingly involved” in Hong Kong affairs.
At the time, the Office of the Commissioner of the Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong – the Chinese foreign ministry’s office in the city – warned “the relevant US politician” to “immediately stop colluding with violent and illegal elements in Hong Kong” and “immediately stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs and China’s internal affairs”, or they would “be despised by all Chinese people, including Hong Kong compatriots”.
In response, the US State Department said that official Chinese media reports on its diplomat in Hong Kong “have gone from irresponsible to dangerous”.


Under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, the United States will need China’s permission for Eadeh to perform her duties. If a state refuses to issue a consular certificate, it does not need to explain the reasons for the refusal.
Lau Siu-kai, a consultant with Beijing’s semi-official think tank, the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macau Studies, said Beijing would certainly look at Eadeh’s history and weigh it against the state of Sino-US relations to decide whether to grant her permission.
“Even if she were permitted, her past record will make her work more difficult in Hong Kong,” Lau said.
“She is a US diplomat representing the US government’s views and policies. They have not come out with anything that is pro-trade and development in recent years,” he said.
“No matter who takes over as the next US consul general, he or she will be operating in a very different environment compared to 2019, with the Hong Kong national security law and Article 23 of the Basic Law now in place.”
Before becoming consul general in Istanbul in October 2022, Eadeh was the spokeswoman for the US mission in Ankara.
From 2010 to 2012, she was at the US consulate in Shanghai, covering environmental, science, technology, health and energy issues.
From 2007 to 2008, she managed press and media relations as the deputy spokeswoman at the US embassy in Baghdad.
In 2006 while posted in Beirut, Eadeh oversaw the evacuation of American citizens from Lebanon during Israel’s war with Hezbollah. Other earlier assignments include in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labour in Washington, as a political officer in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and as an economic officer in Jerusalem.
She speaks Turkish, Arabic and Mandarin.
The State Department said it did not comment on personnel matters.


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US-China relations

US career diplomat Julie Eadeh tipped to be next consul general in Hong Kong

Julie Eadeh is tipped to be leaving Istanbul to become the US consul general in Hong Kong. Photo:  Getty Images

Top US envoy in Hong Kong may be headed for senior role in Beijing embassy

Gregory May, who arrived to serve as the US consul general for Hong Kong and Macau in September 2022, is expected to be appointed second-in-command of the US embassy in Beijing. Photo: Sun Yeung

Outgoing US envoy says little chance to meet Hong Kong officials during term

US Consul General Gregory May’s tenure has been marked by the erosion of bilateral ties between the US and Hong Kong following the enactment of the city’s national security law in 2020 and the wider geopolitical struggle between Washington and Beijing. Photo: AFP

Hong Kong commerce minister Algernon Yau (centre) joins US Consul General Gregory May (right) and US Deputy Consul General David Schlaefer for a toast at an Independence Day event in Central. Photo: Eugene Lee

The ongoing national security trial of former media tycoon Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai has become a flashpoint in relations between the US and Hong Kong. Photo: AFP

Beijing slams US official, EU body for attack on Hong Kong national security law

The office also highlighted Hong Kong’s achievements since the enactment of the city’s two national security laws, including being ranked as the world’s freest economy. Photo: Warton Li

US Senator Jim Risch has accused Hong Kong authorities of moving to silence political opposition and subvert the city’s rule of law following the enactment of the 2020 national security law. Photo: EPA

News

China

Politics

Photos published of Eadeh meeting opposition activists in 2019 were held up as evidence of ‘foreign forces’ at work in the city


Photos published of Eadeh meeting opposition activists in 2019 were held up as evidence of ‘foreign forces’ at work in the city.


.css-sioo19{color:#c79a00;}Exclusive | US career diplomat Julie Eadeh tipped to be next consul general in Hong Kong

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Photos published of Eadeh meeting opposition activists in 2019 were held up as evidence of ‘foreign forces’ at work in the city

Exclusive | US career diplomat Julie Eadeh tipped to be next consul general in Hong Kong

Photos published of Eadeh meeting opposition activists in 2019 were held up as evidence of ‘foreign forces’ at work in the city