On May 1, 1937, he was appointed as the Consul General for Hong Kong and Macau. During the Canton Operation the Japanese dropped three bombs on the American owned Lingnan University, causing criticism from the United States which was delivered by Southard. On November 30, 1938, Lydia Liliuokalani Kawānanakoa, the daughter of former Hawai'i Prince David Kawānanakoa, married journalist Clark Lee and Southard served as a witness to the wedding.