One sentence summary – China has requested foreign consulates in Hong Kong to provide personal details of their local staff members, including names, addresses, and job descriptions, raising concerns about privacy and human rights as the deadline for submission approaches.
At a glance
- China has requested foreign consulates in Hong Kong to submit personal details of their local staff members to Beijing’s Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- This is the first time such personal information has been solicited in this manner.
- The request asks for names, home addresses, and job descriptions of consulate staff.
- All consulates in Hong Kong, permanent or non-permanent, are subject to this requirement.
- The deadline for submission of completed forms is October 18.
The details
China has recently requested foreign consulates in Hong Kong to submit personal details of their local staff members to Beijing’s Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
This is the first time that personal information of local staff members has been solicited in such a manner.
The request specifically asks for names, home addresses, and job descriptions of the consulate staff.
All consulates in Hong Kong, whether permanent or non-permanent, are subject to this requirement.
The deadline for submission of the completed forms is October 18.
China’s increased control over Hong Kong
China’s increased control over Hong Kong in recent years, including the implementation of a national security law in 2020, has raised concerns about privacy and human rights.
This new request further accentuates these concerns.
The information sought by China
The information sought by China is divided into two forms.
The first form requires consulates to provide comprehensive details such as names, positions, residential addresses, and identity document numbers.
The second form pertains to the notification of any termination of employment status.
It is important to note that China’s request applies to all foreign consulates in Hong Kong, and failure to comply may have repercussions.
This development is likely to draw attention from international observers, who may scrutinize China’s motives behind requesting such personal information.
The implications for the privacy and safety of consulate staff members are significant, as their personal details could potentially be exposed to a foreign authority.
As the deadline approaches, it remains to be seen how foreign consulates will respond to this request and whether any diplomatic repercussions will arise.
The situation will undoubtedly be closely monitored by those concerned with privacy rights and the ongoing relationship between China and the international community.
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| theguardian.com |
|---|
| – China has requested foreign consulates in Hong Kong to submit personal details of their local staff. – |
| The request includes names, home addresses, and job descriptions of the staff. – |
| The documents were issued by Beijing’s Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. – Consulates have been given until October 18 to submit the completed forms. – |
| This is the first time that personal details of local staff members have been requested. – China has increased control over Hong Kong in recent years and implemented a national security law in 2020. – |
| The request applies to all consulates in Hong Kong, both permanent and non-permanent residents. – |
| One form requires consulates to provide information on names, positions, residential addresses, and identity document numbers. – Another form asks for notification of any termination of employment status. |
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