Beijing drops need for US consul general to seek consent to meet Hong Kong politicians and officials

Beijing has lifted a requirement that the top US diplomat in Hong Kong obtain Chinese central government approval before meeting city officials or representatives of public educational institutes, the Post has learned. America’s consul general in Hong Kong is still required to provide five days’ notice ahead of such meetings. Beijing imposed the restrictions on Washington’s consul general in Hong Kong more than two years ago in a tit-for-tat move following a US decision to limit the movement of Chinese envoys in the United States.