Latest news with #GregoryMay
The Sun
14 hours ago
- Politics
- The Sun
US Independence Day event no threat to Hong Kong security: consulate chief
HONG KONG: The top American diplomat in Hong Kong defended US Independence Day celebrations as 'perfectly normal' on Thursday after local education officials reportedly warned teachers and students to stay clear due to national security risks. Relations between Hong Kong and the United States frayed after Beijing imposed a national security law on the city in 2020, which critics say has quelled dissent and eroded rights, and ties have further strained during the latest US-China competition. US Consul General Gregory May said he was 'disappointed' as the consulate regularly interacts with schools. 'I challenge any of you to find anything about this event... that would in any way violate the national security of any country,' May told a reception marking the July 4th anniversary. Several schools got notices from education officials to keep pupils away from consulate-hosted US Independence Day events and avoid breaching the security law, local newspaper Ming Pao reported last week. The Education Bureau did not confirm or deny the report, only saying on Tuesday that 'schools have the responsibility to play a good gate-keeper role and to enhance the sensitivity of teachers and students to national security'. A US consulate spokesperson condemned the move as 'repression'. Guests at Thursday's reception included Hong Kong's commerce and economic development chief Algernon Yau and former city leader Donald Tsang. Pro-Beijing lawmaker Regina Ip, who convenes the government's cabinet, told AFP on Wednesday that the Bureau made an 'oversimplification, causing unnecessary concern'. May, who will soon become deputy head of the US embassy in Beijing, also bemoaned the treatment of pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai and other 'political prisoners', saying Hong Kongers have been jailed for peaceful expression of views. Lai, 77, is in the middle of a lengthy trial for foreign collusion charges under the national security law and has been in custody since 2020. May criticised the Hong Kong government for 'transnational repression', referring to police bounties issued against 19 overseas pro-democracy activists. 'This is an attempt to restrict the free speech of people in the United States,' he said, adding that it was 'very disturbing' that authorities have targeted the activists' families in Hong Kong.
Int'l Business Times
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Int'l Business Times
US Independence Day Event No Threat To Hong Kong Security: Consulate Chief
The top American diplomat in Hong Kong defended US Independence Day celebrations as "perfectly normal" on Thursday after local education officials reportedly warned teachers and students to stay clear due to national security risks. Relations between Hong Kong and the United States frayed after Beijing imposed a national security law on the city in 2020, which critics say has quelled dissent and eroded rights, and ties have further strained during the latest US-China competition. US Consul General Gregory May said he was "disappointed" as the consulate regularly interacts with schools. "I challenge any of you to find anything about this event... that would in any way violate the national security of any country," May told a reception marking the July 4th anniversary. Several schools got notices from education officials to keep pupils away from consulate-hosted US Independence Day events and avoid breaching the security law, local newspaper Ming Pao reported last week. The Education Bureau did not confirm or deny the report, only saying on Tuesday that "schools have the responsibility to play a good gate-keeper role and to enhance the sensitivity of teachers and students to national security". A US consulate spokesperson condemned the move as "repression". Guests at Thursday's reception included Hong Kong's commerce and economic development chief Algernon Yau and former city leader Donald Tsang. Pro-Beijing lawmaker Regina Ip, who convenes the government's cabinet, told AFP on Wednesday that the Bureau made an "oversimplification, causing unnecessary concern". May, who will soon become deputy head of the US embassy in Beijing, also bemoaned the treatment of pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai and other "political prisoners", saying Hong Kongers have been jailed for peaceful expression of views. Lai, 77, is in the middle of a lengthy trial for foreign collusion charges under the national security law and has been in custody since 2020. May criticised the Hong Kong government for "transnational repression", referring to police bounties issued against 19 overseas pro-democracy activists. "This is an attempt to restrict the free speech of people in the United States," he said, adding that it was "very disturbing" that authorities have targeted the activists' families in Hong Kong. Hong Kong education officials reportedly told teachers and students to avoid US Independence Day events due to national security risks AFP US-Hong Kong relations frayed after Beijing imposed a national security law on the city in 2020 AFP
France 24
14 hours ago
- Politics
- France 24
US Independence Day event no threat to Hong Kong security: consulate chief
Relations between Hong Kong and the United States frayed after Beijing imposed a national security law on the city in 2020, which critics say has quelled dissent and eroded rights, and ties have further strained during the latest US-China competition. US Consul General Gregory May said he was "disappointed" as the consulate regularly interacts with schools. "I challenge any of you to find anything about this event... that would in any way violate the national security of any country," May told a reception marking the July 4th anniversary. Several schools got notices from education officials to keep pupils away from consulate-hosted US Independence Day events and avoid breaching the security law, local newspaper Ming Pao reported last week. The Education Bureau did not confirm or deny the report, only saying on Tuesday that "schools have the responsibility to play a good gate-keeper role and to enhance the sensitivity of teachers and students to national security". A US consulate spokesperson condemned the move as "repression". Guests at Thursday's reception included Hong Kong's commerce and economic development chief Algernon Yau and former city leader Donald Tsang. Pro-Beijing lawmaker Regina Ip, who convenes the government's cabinet, told AFP on Wednesday that the Bureau made an "oversimplification, causing unnecessary concern". May, who will soon become deputy head of the US embassy in Beijing, also bemoaned the treatment of pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai and other "political prisoners", saying Hong Kongers have been jailed for peaceful expression of views. Lai, 77, is in the middle of a lengthy trial for foreign collusion charges under the national security law and has been in custody since 2020. May criticised the Hong Kong government for "transnational repression", referring to police bounties issued against 19 overseas pro-democracy activists. "This is an attempt to restrict the free speech of people in the United States," he said, adding that it was "very disturbing" that authorities have targeted the activists' families in Hong Kong. © 2025 AFP
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
US Independence Day event no threat to Hong Kong security: consulate chief
The top American diplomat in Hong Kong defended US Independence Day celebrations as "perfectly normal" on Thursday after local education officials reportedly warned teachers and students to stay clear due to national security risks. Relations between Hong Kong and the United States frayed after Beijing imposed a national security law on the city in 2020, which critics say has quelled dissent and eroded rights, and ties have further strained during the latest US-China competition. US Consul General Gregory May said he was "disappointed" as the consulate regularly interacts with schools. "I challenge any of you to find anything about this event... that would in any way violate the national security of any country," May told a reception marking the July 4th anniversary. Several schools got notices from education officials to keep pupils away from consulate-hosted US Independence Day events and avoid breaching the security law, local newspaper Ming Pao reported last week. The Education Bureau did not confirm or deny the report, only saying on Tuesday that "schools have the responsibility to play a good gate-keeper role and to enhance the sensitivity of teachers and students to national security". A US consulate spokesperson condemned the move as "repression". Guests at Thursday's reception included Hong Kong's commerce and economic development chief Algernon Yau and former city leader Donald Tsang. Pro-Beijing lawmaker Regina Ip, who convenes the government's cabinet, told AFP on Wednesday that the Bureau made an "oversimplification, causing unnecessary concern". May, who will soon become deputy head of the US embassy in Beijing, also bemoaned the treatment of pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai and other "political prisoners", saying Hong Kongers have been jailed for peaceful expression of views. Lai, 77, is in the middle of a lengthy trial for foreign collusion charges under the national security law and has been in custody since 2020. May criticised the Hong Kong government for "transnational repression", referring to police bounties issued against 19 overseas pro-democracy activists. "This is an attempt to restrict the free speech of people in the United States," he said, adding that it was "very disturbing" that authorities have targeted the activists' families in Hong Kong. hol/dhw
South China Morning Post
14 hours ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Outgoing US envoy says little chance to meet Hong Kong officials during term
America's outgoing top diplomat in Hong Kong has said he had little opportunity to meet local officials during his tenure, while also noting that the implementation of the national security law five years ago remains a source of friction. Speaking at an American Independence Day event on Thursday, United States Consul General Gregory May also confirmed an earlier report from the Post that he would soon depart Hong Kong to take on a senior role in the country's embassy in Beijing. May, who was first posted to Hong Kong in 2022, said he was leaving with an 'absolute super-positive' impression of the city, while acknowledging that political differences had continued to hamper ties. 'I think Hong Kong is a great city,' he said. 'What is not great is the policies of the mainland Chinese government [and] the Hong Kong government that have eroded freedom.' His tenure has been marked by the erosion of ties between the US and Hong Kong following the enactment of the city's 2020 national security law and the wider geopolitical struggle between Washington and Beijing.
