Kurt Tong
The U.S. Consulate General to Hong Kong and Macau has announced that Kurt Tong, from the U.S. Department of State, has been appointed as the next U.S. consul general to both administrative regions, succeeding Clifford Hart in August.
Tong, a Mandarin and Japanese speaker, is currently the principal deputy assistant secretary for the Department of State’s Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs, making him a high-ranking official responsible for the Department’s economic affairs.
Prior to his time in Tokyo where he served as the deputy chief of mission and Charge d’Affaires, the diplomat was also the U.S. ambassador to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), where he was responsible for managing U.S. involvement in transnational organization.
The incoming consul general who has been a diplomat since 1990, was greatly involved in Taiwan’s application to join the U.S.-supported Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) in addition to earlier postings in Beijing, Seoul and Manila.
According to a report by Apple Daily, Tong said Hong Kong should assess whether or not it should join the TPP, as the city had not shown interest in joining the U.S. trade partnership. Tong stressed that TPP member states would be attentive if Hong Kong showed interest, since the region has long been a member of APEC.
A Hong-Kong based diplomat from a country which is a close ally of the U.S. thinks Tong is not a “China expert,” but stressed that the appointment showed that Washington chooses to focus on trade with Hong Kong, due to its acknowledgement of Tong’s economic background.
Meanwhile, comparisons have already been made between Tong and Hart, stressing that the current consul general had several postings in Hong Kong before taking his post as top envoy, and had represented the U.S. in the six-party talks on North Korea’s nuclear program.
Hart has also been frequently praised by netizens for speaking fluent Cantonese, most recently at the dragon boat competition in Stanley which he officiated last week.
Although Hart has yet to reveal his plans after stepping down from his current post, he revealed to South China Morning Post last year that there is a possibility he will stay in the diplomatic service.
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