Consulate General of Canada in Hong Kong and Macao

The Consulate General of Canada in Hong Kong and Macao (French: Consulat général du Canada à Hong Kong et Macao; Chinese: 加拿大駐香港及澳門總領事館) represents Canada in the Hong Kong and Macau Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China. As Hong Kong was linked to the Commonwealth during British administration, Canada's mission was called the Canadian Commission before the transfer of sovereignty to China on July 1, 1997.[1] Since 1980, the Head of Mission in Hong Kong has also served as Consul-General to Macau.[2]

Consulate General of Canada in Hong Kong and Macao
Consulat Général du Canada à Hong Kong et Macao
Exchange Square, the location of the Consulate General
AddressTower 3, Floor 5
Exchange Square
8 Connaught Place
Central, Hong Kong
Coordinates22°17′02″N 114°09′32″E
Jurisdiction Hong Kong
 Macau
Consul GeneralRachael Bedlington
Websitehongkong.gc.ca
Consulate General of Canada in Hong Kong and Macao
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese加拿大駐香港及澳門總領事館
Simplified Chinese加拿大驻香港及澳门总领事馆
French name
FrenchConsulat général du Canada à Hong Kong et Macao

Owing to the special status of Hong Kong and Macau, the Consulate General of Canada reports directly to Global Affairs Canada in Ottawa rather than through the Canadian Embassy in Beijing, although it does work closely with its counterparts at the embassy.[3] Under an agreement signed on September 19, 1996, Ottawa and Beijing agreed that the then Commission, to be called the Consulate General, would continue to operate as regulated by normal diplomatic procedures (such as the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations).[4]

In common with the missions of most other countries in Hong Kong, the Consulate General does not have its own chancery building. In 1985 it moved located on the 11th to 14th floors in Exchange Square, at 8 Connaught Road Central. These offices provide a base for 23 Canada-based diplomats and 117 locally employed staff delivering a wide variety of services. The office relocated again in 2014 to two locations:

  • Office of the Consul-General/Canadian Trade Commissioner Service/Foreign Policy and Diplomacy Service: 5th floor, Tower 3, Exchange Square, 8 Connaught Place
  • Consular Section, Immigration Section, Canada Border Services Agency: 9th floor, Berkshire House, 25 Westlands Road, Quarry Bay, Hong Kong
  • Administration Section: 8th floor, Berkshire House, 25 Westlands Road, Quarry Bay, Hong Kong

The history of Canadian diplomatic missions in the territory began in 1923 when a Canadian Immigration office was established in Hong Kong. In 1929, Trade Commissioner Paul Sykes opened the Canadian Trade Commission. At the start of World War II (1941), the office was closed, but it reopened in 1946.

The present Consul General is Rachael Bedlington.

The counterpart Hong Kong representation in Canada is the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Toronto.

List of Consuls General and Commissioners
  • Rachael Bedlington 2021-Present[5]
  • Jeff Nankivell 2016–2021[6]
  • J. Ian Burchett 2011-2016[7]
  • Doreen Steidle 2008-2011[8]
  • Gerry Campbell 2004-2008[9]
  • Anthony Burger 2001-2004[10]
  • Colin Russel 1997-2001[11]
  • Garrett Lambert 1994-1997[12]
  • John P. Higginbotham 1989-1994[13]
  • Anne Marie Doyle 1986-1989[14]
  • Maurice Copithorne 1983-1986[15]
  • R. Allen Kilpatrick 1982-1983[16]
  • W.T. Warden 1978-1981[17]
  • M.G. Charles 1975-1977[18]
  • R.L. Wales 1972-1974[19]
  • C.R. Gallow 1966-1971[20]
  • R.K. Thomson 1963-1965[21]
  • C.M. Forsyth-Smith 1957-1962[22]

See also

References
  1. 2 China Dissidents Granted Asylum, Fly to Vancouver, Los Angeles Times, September 17, 1992
  2. Canada-Macao Relations, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
  3. "Inspection of The Canadian Consulate General Hong Kong". Archived from the original on 2016-10-05. Retrieved 2016-03-23.
  4. Canada Among Nations, 1997: Asia Pacific Face-Off, Fen Hampson, McGill-Queen's Press, 15 Aug 1997, page 335
  5. "Announcement of new diplomatic appointments: Rachael Bedlington and Christopher Cooter". Global Affairs Canada. 2021-08-14. Retrieved 2021-09-20.
  6. "Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada Board of Directors Announces Jeff Nankivell as New President and CEO". GlobeNewswire. 2021-06-02. Retrieved 2021-09-20.
  7. Canada Day 2016 Reception; Speech by the Consul General of Canada, J. Ian Burchett, 1 July 2016
  8. "Former Canadian diplomat Doreen Steidle returns to Hong Kong with HSBC". Archived from the original on 2016-10-17. Retrieved 2020-07-27.
  9. News Releases DIPLOMATIC APPOINTMENTS, August 12, 2004
  10. Foreign Affairs Announces Diplomatic Appointments to Asia Archived 2016-09-17 at the Wayback Machine, 18 Jul 2001
  11. Colin Stevens Russel, Bloomberg
  12. Warning: Deadline Ahead, Asiaweek, April 11, 1997
  13. "John Higginbotham, Senior Distinguished Fellow, Carleton University, Ottawa". Archived from the original on 2016-08-22. Retrieved 2016-08-17.
  14. Canada Soothes Asia Over US Pact, February 15, 1989
  15. Maurice Copithorne, QC
  16. Guide Parlementaire Canadien, P.G. Normandin, 1983, page 1297
  17. International Perspectives, 1981, page 10
  18. Kung Huang. "XXIII Chief Delegates of the Canadian Consular Office in Hong Kong while Ceded to United Kingdom". The History of Organizational System of Sino-Canadian Diplomatic and Consular Relations with Directory of Chief Delegates of Canadian Missions in China and Chief Delegates of Chinese Missions in Canada, 1909~1997. Translated by Frances Li. Taipei: Bacon Cultural Enterprise Co., Ltd. pp. 93–4. ISBN 957-788-116-5.
  19. Canadian Almanac & Directory, Copp, Clark., 1973, page 485
  20. Canada Commerce, Volume 135, 1971, page 17
  21. Foreign Trade, Volume 125, page 49
  22. RED CHINA: Famine on the Way?, Time, November 04, 1957, page 28
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