New US envoy in Hong Kong seeks one-on-one meetings with all 70 lawmakers as he praises city’s ‘specialness’

Tackling the issue of independence, Kurt Tong stresses that Hong Kong is definitely a part of China but Washington values its high degree of autonomy

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New US consul general Kurt Tong praised the record turnout by Hong Kong voters at the Legco elections on September 4. Photos: Jonathan Wong

Published: 11:10pm, 22 Sep 2016Updated: 11:16pm, 22 Sep 2016

Washington’s new man in Hong Kong has set up one-on-one meetings with all 70 members of the city’s newly elected legislature as a priority and employed the language of diplomacy to answer questions about its nascent independence movement.

At his first major public appearance since becoming United States consul general for Hong Kong and Macau a month ago, Kurt Tong said on Thursday he wanted the meetings “as soon as possible” after the lawmakers were sworn in next month, adding that his invitation was open to anyone “regardless of their political views”.

Hong Kong is definitely part of China. But Hong Kong also exists as one of the world’s leading cities, and many people outside China also have a stake in its success

Kurt Tong

Addressing an American Chamber of Commerce lunch, Tong also praised the record number of voters who turned out at the Legislative Council elections on September 4, which he said “showed how much people here are committed to the idea of democratic participation in politics”.

Tong repeatedly stressed what he described as Hong Kong’s “specialness”, its long-standing relationship with the US, and the need to “cherish, protect and maintain” the “one country, two systems” principle under which the city operates.

Kurt Tong is fluent in Putonghua and Japanese but lacks the Cantonese skills of his predecessor, Clifford A. Hart.

“I think there is a lot at stake here. Hong Kong is definitely part of China. But Hong Kong also exists as one of the world’s leading cities, and many people outside China also have a stake in its success.

“It would be a great loss to the global commons – economically as well as culturally – if Hong Kong were to somehow lose its ‘specialness’,” Tong said.