AdvertisementAdvertisementEast AsiaCui Jianchun, commissioner of Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong, speaks at the 5th anniversary of Hong Kong National Security Law Forum in Hong Kong, on Jun 21, 2025. (Photo: AP/Chan Long Hei)02 Oct 2025 11:13PM Bookmark Bookmark WhatsApp Telegram Facebook Twitter Email LinkedInRead a summary of this article on FAST.Get bite-sized news via a newcards interface. Give it a try.Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FASTFAST HONG KONG: China's top diplomat in Hong Kong has rebuked his American counterpart just weeks after her arrival and warned her against meeting people she "shouldn't meet with", according to a statement released on Thursday (Oct 2).Julie Eadeh took over as the US Consul General in Hong Kong and Macau in late August, following years of fraying ties between the Chinese finance hub and the United States over issues such as a Beijing-imposed national security law and the jailing of protesters.Eadeh drew the ire of Hong Kong's pro-Beijing faction after opposition figures Anson Chan and Emily Lau were spotted among the guests at a recent consular reception.Cui Jianchun, the commissioner of China's foreign ministry in Hong Kong, met Eadeh on Tuesday "to lodge solemn representations on her conducts since she assumed duties", his office said.Cui also laid down four edicts: "Don't meet the people who the (consul general) shouldn't meet with, don't collude with anti-China forces, don't instigate, assist, abet or fund any activities that undermine stability in Hong Kong, don't interfere with national security cases in Hong Kong."Eadeh was working as a US diplomat in Hong Kong in 2019 when the city saw huge and sometimes violent protests, and had reportedly met with prominent activists Joshua Wong and Nathan Law.One of Hong Kong's last pro-democracy groups disbands amid national security crackdownHong Kong activists' appeal ends, judgment due in nine monthsSince then, Beijing-backed newspapers Ta Kung Pao and Wen Wei Po have repeatedly condemned Eadeh as a "mastermind of causing chaos in Hong Kong" and cited her meeting with the activists as proof of foreign interference.In his Tuesday meeting, Cui told the US diplomat to "abide by fundamental norms governing international relations including non-interference in domestic affairs and make a clean break with anti-China forces".China's office overseeing Hong Kong affairs have reposted multiple newspaper op-eds critical of Eadeh over the past two weeks.AFP has contacted the US consulate for commentOne major dispute between Beijing and Washington in Hong Kong concerns media mogul Jimmy Lai, who faces up to life in prison after being charged with foreign collusion under the national security law.Eadeh's predecessor Gregory May said earlier this year that US President Donald Trump was "very concerned" about Lai, who remains behind bars as he awaits a verdict following the trial's conclusion in August.Hong Kong authorities say that the media mogul has been given a fair trial and receives adequate medical care in prison.Source: AFP/ecNewsletterWeek in ReviewSubscribe to our Chief Editor’s Week in ReviewOur chief editor shares analysis and picks of the week's biggest news every Saturday.NewsletterMorning BriefSubscribe to CNA’s Morning BriefAn automated curation of our top stories to start your day.Sign up for our newslettersGet our pick of top stories and thought-provoking articles in your inboxSubscribe hereGet the CNA appStay updated with notifications for breaking news and our best storiesDownload hereGet WhatsApp alertsJoin our channel for the top reads for the day on your preferred chat appJoin hereAlso worth readingContent is loading...Expand to read the full storyGet bite-sized news via a newcards interface. Give it a try.Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FASTFAST