New PH Consul General in Hong Kong Receives Exequatur

Philippine Consul General Antonio A. Morales (left) receives his exequatur from Ambassador Xie Feng, Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of China, at the MFA Liaison Office in Central on 25 January 2018.

06 February 2018 HONG KONG –Philippine Consul General in Hong Kong, Antonio A. Morales, formally received his exequatur on January 25 from Ambassador Xie Feng, Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, in recognition of his assumption of duty in the territory.

Consul General Morales, who arrived in Hong Kong early January this year, expressed his appreciation to Ambassador Xie for the “fast issuance” of the exequatur which was signed by Guo Shaochun, Director General of the MFA’s Department of Consular Affairs in Beijing on 28 December 2017.

He was accompanied by Deputy Consul General Roderico C. Atienza while Ambassador Xie was assisted by Director General Yang Peidong of his office’s Consular Department, and First Secretary Deng Qinghua.

Consul General Morales was previously posted for a year and a half in Beijing as deputy to the ambassador in 2013 before becoming the Philippines’ top envoy to Singapore in 2014. His predecessor, Bernardita L. Catalla, left Hong Kong to begin her tour of duty in Lebanon on 29 October 2017.

Both officials recognized the improvement in bilateral relations between the Philippines and China. Commissioner Xie said both sides have “good prospects to further expand cooperation,” adding that the new appointment will contribute both to the “fruitful relations” between the Philippines and Hong Kong, and overall Philippines-China ties.

Calling the Philippines “an important country” in the Belt and Road, Commissioner Xie encouraged the Philippines to participate in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and for businesses to seize opportunities in the Greater Bay Area covering the two special economic zones of Hong Kong and Macau, as well as nine cities in Guangdong Province. END

For more information, visit www.hongkongpcg.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PCGHK/.

Philippine Consul General Antonio A. Morales (center left) and Ambassador Xie Feng (center right), Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of China, pose Philippine Deputy Consul General Roderico C. Atienza Director General Yang Peidong of his office’s Consular Department, and First Secretary Deng Qinghua at the MFA Liaison Office in Central on 25 January 2018.