Beijing requests consulates in Hong Kong to provide local staff information

Foreign consulates in Hong Kong have been instructed by Beijing to provide personal information on all locally hired staff, according to local media reports. The request, made by the city's Chinese Foreign Ministry, has set a deadline of 18 October for the submission of this data. The requirement affects all local employees of foreign missions in Hong Kong, including both permanent and non-permanent residents. This move aims to align Hong Kong's regulations with those of mainland China. Hong Kong, which has enjoyed some autonomy since the end of British rule in 1997, saw Beijing tighten its control over the city last year by implementing a national security law that criminalizes various forms of dissent, including collusion with foreign governments. While this policy is already in place for Chinese employees of foreign embassies and consulates on the mainland, it is believed to be the first time it is being implemented in Hong Kong. The requested information includes job titles, residential addresses, and identity card numbers of the staff. Additionally, consulates have been asked to provide personal details of new hires within 15 days of their start date. The letter from the Chinese Foreign Ministry's Commissioner's Office in Hong Kong stated that the collected data may be shared with other authorities involved in managing the presence of locally engaged staff. No specific purpose for these requirements has been specified by the office.