I think it's pretty clear by now from the folks doing United Front research that the consulates serve as a launching point for all kinds of influence operations, clandestine activity, and harassment of foreign dissidents. There were some old cables and reports floating around about CCP agents throwing their weight around in Oil and Gas to keep exploration of South China Sea area on their terms. Then the Medical Center IP investigations and just recently an incident at George Bush International where consulate staff played some games with the manifest to get people out of the U.S. on assumed identities. It was probably a straw that broke the camel's back situation.

Unlike the U.S. consulates in China, which regularly conduct thousands of passport renewals, visa approvals, and other routine services each day, the consular function of Chinese consulates is an afterthought at best. I don't think foot traffic is part of the calculation.