Beijing has told Hong Kong-based foreign consular officials to seek approval from the Chinese authorities 10 days in advance before they pay any business visits to the Greater Bay Area (GBA) – including Macau and cities in Guangdong – according to a letter obtained by HKFP. The letter from the Commissioner’s Office of China Foreign Ministry in the Hong Kong SAR, dated August 1, stated that – if any foreign consular official needed to perform official duties “outside their consular districts within GBA,” they should obtain “prior consent.” To seek consent, the consulates will need to send a not…