Consular missions in Hong Kong Embassies in Beijing, such as those of the following countries: When Hong Kong was under British rule, the Governor represented the British government, as well as the British monarch as head of state. Matters relating to British nationality were handled by the Hong Kong Immigration Department. However, the United Kingdom's commercial interests were represented by the British Trade Commission. The last Senior Trade Commissioner, Francis Cornish, became the first British Consul-General following the transfer of sovereignty to China, on July 1, 1997. During the negotiations between Britain and China on the future of Hong Kong, the British proposed the establishment
Hong Kong–North Korea relations and People's Republic of China. Hong Kong joined the embargo imposed on the communist bloc during the second half of the 20th century. Following the transfer of sovereignty of Hong Kong to China, North Korea was able to open a Consulate-General in February 2000 by virtue of its diplomatic relations with Beijing, having previously not been allowed to establish a trade mission during British rule. The Consulate General is located in Wan Chai on Hong Kong Island. Hong Kong had been involved in two cases of North Korean defectors. The first was in 1996, by then a family of 16