US envoy in Hong Kong says little chance to meet local 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.

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 bilateral 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,” he said.

His tenure has been marked by the erosion of bilateral ties between the US and Hong Kong following the enactment of the city’s national security law in 2020 and the wider geopolitical struggle between Washington and Beijing.

Relations have taken a further nosedive since the election of US President Donald Trump, with his administration imposing tariffs and a fresh wave of sanctions on Hong Kong officials during his first six months in office.