The Consulate General of the Kingdom of Tonga in has moved from the City of San Francisco to Burlingame in the Bay area, providing consular services to many of the 57,183 Tongans living in the United States.

The Acting Consul General of the Kingdom of Tonga Mrs Sela Tukia said that the Consulate was established 26 years ago and had operated from Union Square.

She stated that In April 2014, Tonga's king-in-Council had approved for the relocation to Bayshore Highway, in the more centrally-located Burlingame, where it will be more accessible by the Tongan community.

“The previous office was separate from the still government-owned residence called Tauakipulu, which is in Hillsborough,” she said.

“According to the U.S. 2010 Census, there are currently 57,183 Tongans living in the U.S, mainly concentrated in the States of California, Utah and Hawaii. The primary responsibility of the Consulate General has been to provide consular services to and maintain good relations with the Tongan Community in San Francisco, including those living on the mainland. Equally important is keeping a close working relationship with the resident consular corps and local government; and promoting trade and investment, and tourism,” she stated.

A reception was held on Thursday evening June 19, to mark the relocation of the office. Attending were the Guest of Honour, H.E. Mr Mahe Tupouniua, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Tonga to the U.S. and the Permanent Representative of Tonga to the U.N, along with members of the Consular Corps, clergymen and key representatives of the Tongan San Francisco community.

Sela announced that the Consulate General of the Kingdom of Tonga in San Francisco is now located at 1350 Bayshore Highway Suite 610, Burlingame CA 94010; telephone +1 650 685 1001, fax +1 650 685 1003.