Hong Kong–North Korea relations

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Hong Kong–North Korea relations
Map indicating locations of Hong Kong and North Korea

Hong Kong
North Korea

Hong Kong–North Korea relations (

Democratic People's Republic of Korea
.

History

From the establishment of Democratic People's Republic of Korea in 1945 until after the establishment of the Hong Kong

communist bloc
during the second half of the 20th century.

Following the

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.[1] The Consulate General is located in Wan Chai on Hong Kong Island. In October 2023, North Korean officials informed the Chinese the Consulate General would be closed as part of broad cutbacks in its diplomatic missions.[2]

Defectors from North Korea

Hong Kong had been involved in two cases of

political asylum and were further transferred to South Korea.[3]

The second case was in late July 2016. A North Korean defector, who went to Hong Kong as a member of the North Korean delegation for the International Mathematical Olympiad at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, sought refuge at the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea (South Korea) in Hong Kong, which is located on the fifth floor of the Far East Finance Centre in Harcourt Road, Admiralty, Hong Kong Island.[4] The defector eventually left for South Korea around the last week of September 2016 after staying about 80 days in Hong Kong.[5]

Economic relations

Hong Kong is the second largest trading partner of North Korea.[6] Hong Kong and North Korea cooperate in several international organisations, with a focus on social and cultural issues. Despite Hong Kong being the second freest market economy in the world[7] and North Korea being a planned economy, the economic success of Hong Kong has served as a model for the development of the Sinuiju Special Administrative Region, described by its proponents as being the "Hong Kong of North Korea".[8]

Cultural and educational

In December 2016, the

Eddie Ng Hak-kim attended a formal meeting with the newly appointed North Korean Consul-General, Jang Song Chol, in Hong Kong. Afterward, Ng posted on his Facebook page stating that he "anticipated exchanges in cultural and educational affairs will be strengthened in the future." Ng's statement received generally negative response, being blamed that North Korean style "brainwashing" should not be a shared common ground between Hong Kong and North Korea.[9][10]

References

  1. ^ a b North Korea's Macau-based trading venture opens its doors to deny reports of espionage and shady deals, South China Morning Post, 3 September 2000
  2. ^ "North Korea to Close Hong Kong Consulate General; Financial Difficulties Drive Closure of Diplomatic Establishments Worldwide". japannews.yomiuri.co.jp. 27 October 2023. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  3. UPI
    , December 5, 1996
  4. ^ North Korean defects at Hong Kong’s South Korean consulate, South China Morning Post, 27 July 2016.
  5. ^ North defector was holed up for 80 days, The Standard, 29 September 2016
  6. SCMP
    , 8-10-2013
  7. ^ "Economic Freedom". Fraser Institute. Retrieved 2024-01-05.
  8. ^ "Californian May Oversee N. Korea Economic Zone". Los Angeles Times. 8 September 2004.
  9. ^ 吳克儉晤朝鮮總領事　倡加強教育及文化交流　網民「嬲嬲」劣評 in Hong Kong 01, 2016-12-22
  10. Mingpao
    , 24-12-2016
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