Is the US warming up to Hong Kong? High-level meeting with business group signals shift

In a possible sign that Washington’s stance on Hong Kong is shifting, a senior US State Department official will meet a delegation of the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong (AmCham HK), the South China Morning Post has learned.

Speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to comment publicly, sources familiar with the matter said Michael DeSombre, US assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, would meet the AmCham HK delegation, which is travelling to Washington for its annual trip next week.

“He will be the highest-ranking State Department official to meet the Hong Kong delegation in the past several years,” one source familiar with the matter said. “That signals a warming up of relations after President Trump’s meeting with President Xi.”

In recent years, the AmCham HK delegation has typically met officials at the level of principal deputy assistant secretary or deputy assistant secretary, according to the source.

Last month, US President Donald Trump made a two-day state visit to Beijing, where he held extensive talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Xi described Trump’s visit as “historic” and “a landmark”, adding that “important consensus was made on issues both sides are interested in”. Meanwhile, Trump said the whirlwind trip was “fantastic”.

Trump and Xi will have a chance to renew their relationship this autumn, with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi confirming last month that Xi would pay a state visit to the US.