China has given foreign consulates in Hong Kong a month to provide them with the names, addresses and job descriptions of all their employees in the territory, according to diplomatic sources and documents seen by AFP on Tuesday.
The documents include a letter dated Monday from China’s Foreign Ministry representative in Hong Kong and two forms in English and Chinese that consulates must fill out with information about their staff.
In recent years, China has tightened its control over the once semi-autonomous city, enacting a national security law in 2020 to silence opposition and human rights groups after huge pro-democracy protests in 2019.
Two diplomatic sources confirmed that their consulates had received the documents, telling AFP that this was the first time personal details of employees had been requested.
“We are still reviewing the document,” one of the sources said.
AFP contacted China’s Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong as well as the city government’s protocol department – which prepared the forms to be filled out – for comment.
A deadline of October 18 has been set for the return of the documents.
Consulates must now also report every departure and arrival of employees within 15 days.