American envoy in Hong Kong upbeat on US-China ties, aims to engage city officials

The United States’ top envoy in Hong Kong has expressed optimism about US-China relations and pledged to continue seeking pragmatic and constructive ways to engage with the city’s officials.
US Consul General Julie Eadeh made the remarks at her first media briefing since assuming the post last August, held during an American Independence Day event on Tuesday.
The reception, marking the 250th anniversary of the country’s independence, was also attended by Jonathan Burke, US assistant secretary of the Treasury, the highest-ranking American official to visit Hong Kong since 2023.
Eadeh declined to disclose details of the visit by Burke, who is responsible for formulating and coordinating the counterterrorist financing and anti-money-laundering efforts of the Treasury Department, saying only that he would discuss “very key issues” concerning the financial industry.

She said last month’s summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart, Donald Trump, had set a vision for continued dialogue despite challenges.
“I am excited about the prospects of us having that opportunity to continue that engagement because this relationship is so important,” Eadeh said.
“We certainly are looking for, as I said, very pragmatic ways to engage [the Hong Kong government] because it is so important for us to pursue our mutual shared interests.”
Eadeh added that several US officials had visited the city during her tenure and that she expected the trend to continue.
Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong Wai-lun and Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Algernon Yau Ying-wah attended the event.
Last year, only Yau attended the event, a move seen as a downgrade in light of Wong’s previous attendance.
Hua You, deputy commissioner of the foreign ministry’s office in Hong Kong, also attended. The office was represented last year only by Bao Haibin, director general of its policy research department.

Asked whether the attendance of senior officials signalled an improvement in US-Hong Kong relations, Eadeh said she was delighted by their presence and described it as a “positive thing”.
Wong said in a speech that he expected China and the US to maintain stable economic and trade ties and expand practical cooperation across various fields following the Xi-Trump summit.
“We believe that the certainty and stability that follow their meeting are beneficial not just to Hong Kong, but to the entire world,” Wong said.
He also underscored the long-standing partnership and friendship between the US and Hong Kong, stressing that the relationship must be built on mutual respect and constructive dialogue.
Eadeh sparked Beijing’s ire in 2019 when she met local opposition activists during the anti-government protests while serving as the head of the US consulate’s political section.
Beijing also condemned her last year for inviting former opposition figures, including Anson Chan Fang On-sang and Emily Lau Wai-hing, to her inaugural reception, warning that the move had crossed “red lines”.
The foreign ministry’s office in Hong Kong later stated “four don’ts” for Eadeh, including refraining from meeting people she “should not meet”.
In March, the office summoned her after the consulate issued an alert to American citizens about a new law that penalises those who refuse to provide digital device passwords to police during national security investigations.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu earlier said that Hong Kong’s economy and trade with the US would benefit from greater stability and certainty following the Xi-Trump summit.
He added that the US remained an important market for Hong Kong despite volatile relations between Beijing and Washington, while noting that interactions would mostly be business-to-business for the time being.