Consulate General of Sweden, Hong Kong

Consulate General of Sweden, Hong Kong
Map
LocationHong Kong
AddressRoom 2501, 25/F., BEA Harbour View Centre, 56 Gloucester Road, Wanchai,
Hong Kong
Coordinates22°16′44″N 114°10′17″E / 22.27891°N 114.17125°E / 22.27891; 114.17125
Opening3 June 1853[a]
JurisdictionHong Kong, Macau
Consul GeneralLouise Bergholm
WebsiteOfficial website

The Consulate General of Sweden, Hong Kong (Swedish: Sveriges generalkonsulat i Hongkong) is the diplomatic mission of Sweden in Hong Kong. The Consulate General of Sweden in Hong Kong and Macau, established in 1968, plays a vital role in fostering relations between Sweden and the region, focusing on political, economic, and cultural ties. It actively promotes Swedish interests, including marketing products, attracting investments, and fostering educational exchanges. Furthermore, it monitors and reports on political and economic developments in Hong Kong and Macau to Swedish authorities. Additionally, the consulate provides consular services to Swedish citizens, offering support and assistance in various situations. Before 1997, the consulate covered British Hong Kong, and since then, it includes the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau. The consulate's history dates back to 1853 when it was established as an honorary consulate, evolving into a career consulate in 1954 and later elevated to a consulate general in 1968.

History

Background

During the early years of the Age of Empire (1870s to mid-1880s), Sweden–Norway sought to expand its influence by increasing its consular presence in territories where major imperial powers were establishing colonial order. Unlike these powers, Sweden–Norway had few diplomatic missions, relying instead on consuls to represent its interests. The primary goal was to gain political prestige and economic benefits by supporting Swedish and Norwegian merchants and shipowners. However, the consular service faced several challenges. Consuls were often appointed based on reputation and connections rather than qualifications, leading to a lack of necessary skills and knowledge about Sweden–Norway's economic interests. Many consuls were Western merchants who also represented multiple countries and were deeply integrated into colonial networks. Despite some successes in social and political integration, the consular service struggled with economic obstacles and ultimately failed to effectively support trade and shipping. Efforts to reform the consular service, including the appointment of a reform committee in 1875, were insufficient, and by the time of the Berlin Conference almost a decade later, significant issues remained unresolved. This lack of a well-thought-out plan led to an inefficient consular service that did not meet its intended economic goals.[1]

1853–1937

In the late 19th century, Hong Kong was recognized by Swedish-Norwegian authorities as an important distribution center, similar to Singapore. However, the economic strength of both colonies was insufficient to sustain substantial import and export trade. Most Swedish-Norwegian ships arrived in Hong Kong carrying coal from England and returned with rice and sugar. Despite these activities, the volume of trade and shipping between Sweden–Norway and Hong Kong was limited, which impacted the consular services and their effectiveness in the region.[2] The British dominions of British Hong Kong and British Singapore were part of the reorganization of the Swedish-Norwegian consular service in East Asia. Both consulates were established in the early 1850s and were initially operated by foreign merchant consuls. In Hong Kong, a group of German merchant consuls, working for the leading firms Russell & Company and Schellhass, played an important role. These firms were also significant players in Shanghai.[3]

The consulate was established by letters patent on 3 June 1853, and its district included the British colony of Hong Kong. By decision on 15 November 1867, it was determined that a consulate general would be established for China and other East Asian countries with a salary of 8,000 riksdaler banco, and that Victoria in Hong Kong would temporarily serve as the residence of the consul general. However, on 22 November 1867, the salary was used to compensate Premiärlöjtnant Herman Annerstedt for a special mission to study the trade and maritime conditions of Sweden–Norway in East Asia, and the consulate general was temporarily still located in Shanghai.[4] Similar to the situation in Shanghai, the consulate in Hong Kong experienced considerable turbulence in the 1870s and 1880s. In April 1885, the Swedish-Norwegian government appointed Rudolf (Peter) Buschmann as the fifth consul in twelve years. Buschmann was a German merchant and senior partner of Schellhass, who also served as the Dutch consul. However, his tenure was short, lasting only three years before he was replaced by Friedrich Seip, who would become the last consul in Hong Kong.[3]

In the early 1870s, the consular services in Victoria (Hong Kong) and other regions were criticized for their inadequacies. Norwegian dissatisfaction was particularly notable, and despite increasing commercial activities in East Asia, consular development lagged behind. Swedish-Norwegian ships visiting Hong Kong averaged 17 per year from 1870 to 1874, with the number declining to 13 ships by 1879.[5] Consular appointments in Hong Kong faced challenges. In the mid-1870s, the resignation of Vice Consul Rudolf Jensen led to discussions about consular strategy in East Asia. In 1878, Hans Kjær was appointed as consul in Hong Kong, despite opposition from the Norwegians, who had preferred Ludvig Beyer.[6] Kjær's tenure was short-lived due to his economic and social shortcomings, and he was replaced by John Murray Forbes of the Forbes family.[7] Subsequent appointees, such as Charles Vincent Smith, who also worked as representative of Russell & Company, and Rudolf (Peter) Buschmann, also faced challenges, reflecting a persistent disconnect between the Swedish-Norwegian interests and the local commercial environment.[5]

By 1895, the Swedish-Norwegian authorities noted that no Swedish ship had visited Hong Kong in the previous five years. This prompted a reassessment of the need for a full consulate in Hong Kong.[8] Consequently, on 22 May 1896, the consulate was downgraded to a vice consulate, and the district was placed under the jurisdiction of the consulate general in Shanghai.[4] This decision was supported by former Foreign Minister and then Minister to London, Carl Lewenhaupt, and Consul General Carl Bock in Shanghai.[8] In the late 1890s, further efforts to reorganize and improve consular services in East Asia were undertaken. A report by consul Ove Gude [sv; no; da; de] highlighted the need for salaried consulates in key locations, including Hong Kong. Gude's report emphasized the importance of having Swedish and Norwegian consuls who could effectively represent their countries' interests, as foreign merchant consuls often prioritized their own national interests. However, Gude's extensive proposals were largely rejected by Norwegian authorities, who deemed the costs too high and the direct trade with East Asia too insignificant to justify such an expansion.[9]

By the early 20th century, the Swedish-Norwegian consular service continued to face challenges in effectively managing their interests in Hong Kong and the broader East Asian region. Despite some improvements and the recognition of increasing Norwegian shipping activities, the overall impact of the consular services remained limited due to economic constraints and the prevailing political and judicial priorities over commercial interests.[10]

1937–present

In May 1937, the King in Council decided to establish an honorary consulate in Hong Kong and appointed Vice Consul Geoffrey Miskin as consul there.[11] In November 1947, Vice Consul Cedric Blaker was appointed as the new honorary consul.[12] In May 1954, Blaker was granted dismissal, and the honorary consulate was replaced by a career consulate. Torsten Brandel, the counsellor at the Swedish embassy in Copenhagen, was appointed consul in Hong Kong.[13] Brandel arrived in Hong Kong on 28 June 1954, accompanied by Vice Consul Gösta Rönnhed and Secretary Ingrid Gremmel.[14] Until 1954, the honorary consulate in Hong Kong had been under the jurisdiction of the Swedish embassy in Beijing.[15]

In 1968, the consulate was elevated to a consulate general.[16]

In anticipation of Hong Kong's reunification with China, Sweden entered into a consular agreement with China regarding Hong Kong in 1996.[17]

District

The consulate was opened in 1853 and covered the district of British Hong Kong.[4] This lasted until 1997.[18] Since 1997, the district consists of the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau.[19]

Tasks

Sign of the consulate general and the Swedish Chamber of Commerce

The Consulate General of Sweden in Hong Kong and Macau plays a central role in promoting and maintaining relations between Sweden and these regions. In addition to representing Sweden, one of its main goals is to build and strengthen ties between the countries, both on a political, economic, and cultural level. The Consulate General actively works on a variety of issues to promote Swedish interests, including marketing Swedish products, attracting investments to Sweden, promoting research and educational exchanges, as well as fostering cultural cooperation and Swedish tourism. Additionally, they have an important role in monitoring and reporting on the political and economic developments in Hong Kong and Macau to Sweden's Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Government Offices. Another significant task for the Consulate General is to provide consular services to Swedish citizens living in Hong Kong, as well as temporarily visiting Swedes. This involves providing support and assistance in various situations, from emergencies to providing information and advice on local conditions.[19] The Consulate General, Business Sweden, and the Swedish Chamber of Commerce (SWEDCHAM) in Hong Kong have a closely intertwined relationship aimed at promoting Swedish interests and businesses in the region.[20]

Buildings

Chancery

From 1955 to 1959, the chancery was located at Room 605, 7 Ice House Street in Central on the north shore of Hong Kong Island.[21][22] From 1960 to 1965, it was located at 15 Connaught Road in Central.[23][24] In August 1965, the chancery moved to new premises in a modern office building on Hong Kong Island. The new premises were furnished under the direction of the National Swedish Board of Public Building (Byggnadsstyrelsen) with Swedish furniture and textiles, Swedish lighting fixtures, and modern Swedish art on the walls.[25] The address was 1107–08, Hang Seng Bank Building at 77 Des Voeux Road.[26] It remained in these premises until 1981.[27]

From 1982 to 1984, the chancery was located in Rooms 711–712, Wing on Plaza on Salisbury Road/62 Mody Road in the Tsim Sha Tsui East area in southern Kowloon.[28][29] From 1985 to 2012, it was located in the Hong Kong Club Building at 3A Chater Road in Central.[30] In 2012, the office moved to BEA Harbour View Centre at 56 Gloucester Road in Wan Chai.[31]

Residence

The residence was located at R. B. L. 594 in Deep Water Bay on the southern shore of Hong Kong Island from 1955 to at least 1957.[21][32] From at least 1965 to at least 1968, the residence was located at 55 Bisney Road in Pok Fu Lam on Hong Kong Island.[24][33]

Heads of Mission

Name Period Title Notes Ref
Nikolaus Duus 21 November 1854 – 5 December 1861 Honorary consul Died in office. [4]
Ludvig Wiese 8 May 1863 – 13 September 1865 Honorary consul [4]
George I. Helland 18 December 1866 – 24 January 1873 Honorary consul [4]
Rudolf Jensen 26 September 1873 – 12 May 1876 Honorary consul [4]
Hans Kjaer 15 December 1876 – 20 August 1880 Honorary consul [4]
John Murray Forbes 22 January 1881 – 16 December 1881 Honorary consul [4]
Charles Vincent Smith 16 December 1881 – 18 July 1884 Honorary consul [4]
Peter Julius Rudolf Diedrich Buschmann 24 April 1885 – 28 July 1888[b] Honorary consul general [4]
Friedrich Seip 24 May 1889 – 4 October 1895 Honorary consul general [4]
– 1895–1902 Honorary vice consul Vacant [34][35]
Gustav Harling 1902–1909 Honorary vice consul [36]
Schelto Swart 1909–1911 Honorary vice consul [37]
Arthur Nilsson 8 July 1911 – 1916 Honorary vice consul [38][39]
– 1917–1918 Honorary vice consul Vacant [40]
Gunnar Ludin 1916 – April 1919 Acting honorary vice consul [41]
Gunnar Ludin 1919–1924 Honorary vice consul [42]
Geoffrey Miskin 1924–1937 Honorary vice consul [43]
Geoffrey Miskin 1937–1947 Honorary consul [44]
Cedric Blaker 1947–1954 Honorary consul Consul General's exequatur [15]
Torsten Brandel 1954–1956 Consul Also in Macau (from 1955). [21]
Torsten Brandel 1956–1958 Consul Consul General's exequatur [32][45]
Torsten Björck 1958–1962 Consul Also in Macau. [46]
– 1963–1964 – Vacant [47][48]
Olov Ternström 1964–1967 Consul Also in Macau. [24][49]
Carl Kjellberg 1967–1973 Consul general [50]
Dag Bergman 1973–1980 Consul general Also in Macau. [51]
Åke Berg 1980–1985 Consul general Also in Macau. [30]
Christer Jacobson 1985–1990 Consul general Also in Macau (from 1986). [52]
Ulf Norström 1990–1993 Consul general Also in Macau. [53]
Mikael Westerlind 1993–1997 Consul general Also in Macau (from 1994). [18]
Ingolf Kiesow 1997–2000 Consul general Also in Macau. [54]
Peter Ekelund 2000–2004 Consul general Also in Macau. [55]
Boel Evander 2004–2008 Consul general Also in Macau. [56]
Lars Danielsson 2008–2011 Consul general Also in Macau. [57]
Jörgen Halldin 2011–2015 Consul general Also in Macau. [58]
Helena Storm 2015–2020 Consul general Also in Macau. [59]
Per Augustsson 2020–2023 Consul general Also in Macau. [60]
Louise Bergholm 2023–present Consul general Also in Macau. [61]

Footnotes

  1. ^ The consulate general has its origins in the honorary consulate which was opened on 3 June 1853 and which, after both downgrading and upgrading, became a consulate general in 1968.
  2. ^ On leave due to return to Europe in November 1886.[4]

References

Notes

  1. ^ Makko 2020, pp. 98–99
  2. ^ Makko 2020, p. 71
  3. ^ a b Makko 2020, p. 160
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Almquist 1914, p. 365
  5. ^ a b Makko 2020, p. 74
  6. ^ Makko 2020, p. 73
  7. ^ Makko 2020, pp. 73–74
  8. ^ a b Makko 2020, pp. 160–161
  9. ^ Makko 2020, p. 154
  10. ^ Makko 2020, p. 155
  11. ^ "Konsulerna" [The consuls]. Svenska Dagbladet. 1937-05-12. p. 4A. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  12. ^ "Till konsul i Genevé" [To Consul in Geneva]. Svenska Dagbladet. 1947-11-26. p. 4A. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  13. ^ "Ny svensk konsul i Hongkong". Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). 1954-05-15. p. A8. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  14. ^ "Svensk konsul i Hongkong" [Swedish Consul in Hong Kong]. Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). 1954-06-29. p. A5. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  15. ^ a b Sveriges statskalender för året 1954 (PDF) (in Swedish). Uppsala: Fritzes offentliga publikationer. 1954. p. 326.
  16. ^ "Konsulatarkiv Hongkong" (in Swedish). National Archives of Sweden. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  17. ^ "LANDFAKTA - HONGKONG SAR, KINA" (PDF) (in Swedish). Consulate General of Sweden, Hong Kong. November 2014. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 December 2014. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  18. ^ a b Almqvist 1997, pp. 190, 194
  19. ^ a b "Om oss" [About us] (in Swedish). Consulate General of Sweden, Hong Kong. 27 May 2024. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  20. ^ Persson, Joakim (7 December 2016). "Everything under the sun for Sweden's Hong Kong Consul-General". Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  21. ^ a b c Sveriges statskalender för året 1955 (PDF) (in Swedish). Stockholm: Fritzes offentliga publikationer. 1955. pp. 333, 338.
  22. ^ Sveriges statskalender för året 1959 (PDF) (in Swedish). Uppsala: Fritzes offentliga publikationer. 1959. p. 322.
  23. ^ Sveriges statskalender för skottåret 1960 (PDF) (in Swedish). Uppsala: Fritzes offentliga publikationer. 1960. p. 328.
  24. ^ a b c Sveriges statskalender 1965 (PDF) (in Swedish). Uppsala: Fritzes offentliga publikationer. 1965. p. 341.
  25. ^ "Hongkongkonsulatet i ny kontorsbyggnad". Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). 1965-08-28. p. 8A. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  26. ^ Sveriges statskalender 1966 (PDF) (in Swedish). Uppsala: Fritzes offentliga publikationer. 1966. p. 316.
  27. ^ Sköldenberg 1981, p. 363
  28. ^ Sköldenberg 1982, p. 375
  29. ^ Spiegelberg 1984, p. 363
  30. ^ a b Spiegelberg 1985, pp. 357, 361
  31. ^ Rovnick, Naomi (31 October 2012). "Want the cachet of a Hong Kong office? Be prepared to work in the red light district". Quartz. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  32. ^ a b Sveriges statskalender för året 1957 (PDF) (in Swedish). Uppsala: Fritzes offentliga publikationer. 1957. p. 313.
  33. ^ Sveriges statskalender för skottåret 1968 (PDF) (in Swedish). Uppsala: Fritzes offentliga publikationer. 1968. p. 340.
  34. ^ Sveriges statskalender för skottåren 1896 (PDF) (in Swedish). Stockholm: P.A. Nordstedt & Söner. 1895. p. 105.
  35. ^ Sveriges statskalender för år 1903 (PDF) (in Swedish). Stockholm: P.A. Nordstedt & Söner. 1902. p. 108.
  36. ^ Sveriges statskalender för år 1909 (PDF) (in Swedish). Uppsala: P.A. Nordstedt & Söner. 1909. p. 113.
  37. ^ Sveriges statskalender för år 1911 (PDF) (in Swedish). Uppsala: P.A. Nordstedt & Söner. 1911. p. 115.
  38. ^ "Foreign Consuls". Blue Book For the Year 1915. Hong Kong: Noronha & Co. 1916. p. M2.
  39. ^ Sveriges statskalender för skottåret 1916 (PDF) (in Swedish). Uppsala: P.A. Nordstedt & Söner. 1916. p. 188.
  40. ^ Sveriges statskalender för året 1918 (PDF) (in Swedish). Uppsala: Almqvist & Wiksell. 1918. p. 199.
  41. ^ "Konsulerna" [The consuls]. Svenska Dagbladet. No. 96. 1919-04-09. p. 5. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  42. ^ Sveriges statskalender för skottåret 1924 (PDF) (in Swedish). Uppsala: Almqvist & Wiksell. 1924. p. 201.
  43. ^ Sveriges statskalender för året 1937 (PDF) (in Swedish). Uppsala: Fritzes offentliga publikationer. 1937. pp. 224–225.
  44. ^ Sveriges statskalender för året 1947 (PDF) (in Swedish). Uppsala: Fritzes offentliga publikationer. 1947. p. 286.
  45. ^ Sveriges statskalender för året 1958 (PDF) (in Swedish). Uppsala: Fritzes offentliga publikationer. 1958. p. 320.
  46. ^ Sveriges statskalender 1962 (PDF) (in Swedish). Uppsala: Fritzes offentliga publikationer. 1962. p. 324.
  47. ^ Sveriges statskalender 1963 (PDF) (in Swedish). Uppsala: Fritzes offentliga publikationer. 1963. p. 328.
  48. ^ Sveriges statskalender för skottåret 1964 (PDF) (in Swedish). Uppsala: Fritzes offentliga publikationer. 1964. p. 334.
  49. ^ Sveriges statskalender 1967 (PDF) (in Swedish). Uppsala: Fritzes offentliga publikationer. 1967. p. 331.
  50. ^ Sköldenberg 1973, p. 377
  51. ^ Sköldenberg 1980, pp. 350, 353
  52. ^ Spiegelberg 1990, pp. 367, 371
  53. ^ Almqvist 1993, pp. 356, 360
  54. ^ Spiegelberg 2000, p. 181
  55. ^ Spiegelberg 2004, p. 178
  56. ^ Henriksson 2008, p. 186
  57. ^ Sveriges statskalender 2010 (PDF) (in Swedish). Stockholm: Norstedts Juridik AB/Fritzes. 2010. p. 186. ISBN 978-91-38-32520-9. SELIBR 11846164.
  58. ^ "Ny generalkonsul till Hongkong" [New Consul General in Hong Kong] (Press release) (in Swedish). Government Offices of Sweden. 1 September 2011. Retrieved 23 April 2020 – via Mynewsdesk.[dead link‍]
  59. ^ "Ny generalkonsul i Hongkong och Macau" [New Consul General in Hong Kong and Macau] (Press release) (in Swedish). Government Offices of Sweden. 1 April 2015. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  60. ^ "Ny generalkonsul i Hongkong" [New Consul General in Hong Kong] (Press release) (in Swedish). Government Offices of Sweden. 11 June 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  61. ^ "Ny generalkonsul i Hongkong (Kina)" [New Consul General in Hong Kong (China)] (Press release) (in Swedish). Government Offices of Sweden. 6 July 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2024.

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