Consulate General of Canada in Hong Kong and Macao

Exchange Square is an office tower in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong's Exchange Square houses consulates of several countries, including Canada.
Consulate General of Canada in Hong Kong and Macao
Incumbent
J. Ian Burchett

since 2011
Style His Excellency
Residence Hong Kong
Inaugural holder Garrett Lambert
Formation 1997
Website Consulate General, Hong Kong

The Consulate General of Canada in Hong Kong and Macao represents Canada in 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]

Owing to the special status of Hong Kong and Macau, the Consulate General of Canada reports directly to the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development in Ottawa, although it works closely with its counterparts in mainland China.[3] Under an agreement signed on September 19, 1996, Ottawa and Beijing agreed that the former Commission, now 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:

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 current Consul General is Jeff Nankivell.

Past Consuls General and Commissioners

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
  4. Canada Among Nations, 1997: Asia Pacific Face-Off, Fen Hampson, McGill-Queen's Press, 15 Aug 1997, page 335
  5. Former Canadian diplomat Doreen Steidle returns to Hong Kong with HSBC
  6. News Releases DIPLOMATIC APPOINTMENTS, August 12, 2004
  7. Foreign Affairs Announces Diplomatic Appointments to Asia, 18 Jul 2001
  8. Colin Stevens Russel, Bloomberg
  9. Warning: Deadline Ahead, Asiaweek, April 11, 1997
  10. John Higginbotham, Senior Distinguished Fellow, Carleton University, Ottawa
  11. Canada Soothes Asia Over US Pact, February 15, 1989
  12. Maurice Copithorne, QC

Coordinates: 22°17′02″N 114°09′32″E / 22.28389°N 114.15889°E / 22.28389; 114.15889

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