Consul (representative)
[2] In classical Greece, some of the functions of the modern consul were fulfilled by a proxenos, which means an arrangement which a citizen (chosen by the city) hosted foreign ambassadors at his own expense, in return for honorary titles from the state.
Modern honorary consuls fulfill a function that is to a degree similar to that of the ancient Greek institution.
The term was revived by the Republic of Genoa, which, unlike Rome, bestowed it on various state officials, not necessarily restricted to the highest.
The consolat de mar was an institution established under the reign of Peter IV of Aragon in the fourteenth century, and spread to 47 locations throughout the Mediterranean.
Modern consuls retain limited judicial powers to settle disputes on ships from their country (notably regarding the payment of wages to sailors).
The consulado de mercaderes was set up in 1543 in Seville as a merchant guild to control trade with Latin America.
As repeatedly referenced by Mann, a consul's wife was known as "Konsulin" and continued to bear that title even on the death of her husband.
For example, Toronto, Sydney and Auckland are of greater economic importance than their respective national capitals, hence the need for consulates there.
When Hong Kong was under British administration, diplomatic missions of Commonwealth countries, such as Canada,[8] Australia,[9] New Zealand,[10] India,[11] Malaysia,[12] and Singapore[13] were known as commissions.
[16] Owing to Hong Kong's status as a special administrative region of China, some countries' consulates-general in Hong Kong report directly to their respective foreign ministries, rather than to their embassies in Beijing, such as those of Canada,[17] the United Kingdom[18] and the United States.
They may be local people with the nationality of the sending country,[20] and in smaller cities, or in cities that are very distant from full-time diplomatic missions, a foreign government which feels that some form of representation is nevertheless desirable may appoint a person who has not hitherto been part of their diplomatic service to fulfill this role.
Such a consul may well combine the job with their own (often commercial) private activities, and in some instances may not even be a citizen of the sending country.
[notes 1] In some cases "accused terror financiers, arms traffickers and drug runners" have misused their position as honorary consuls.
[25] Despite their other roles, honorary consular officers (in the widest use of the term) in some instances also have responsibility for the welfare of citizens of the appointing country within their bailiwick.
[26] For example, the Embassy of Finland states that the tasks of Finland's Honorary Consulate include monitoring the rights of Finns and permanent residents of Finland residing in the area in which the consulate is located, providing advice and guidance for distressed Finnish citizens and permanent residents traveling abroad to that area, and assisting them in their contacts with local authorities or the nearest Finnish embassy or consulate.
An honorary consul can advise Finnish companies, for instance, in obtaining information about local business culture and in finding cooperation partners.
