31 Jan 2020

British High Commission returns to Tonga

9:21 am on 31 January 2020

The United Kingdom has announced Thorhilda Abbott-Watt will be the new British High Commissioner to Tonga in an appointment which marks the return of the diplomatic office to the islands after a 14-year absence.

The new UK High Commissioner to Tonga, Thorhilda Abbott-Watt

The new UK High Commissioner to Tonga, Thorhilda Abbott-Watt Photo: Foreign Office

Ms Abbott-Watt will take up her residence next week.

The British High Commission is reopening in Nuku'alofa after closing in 2006.

Ms Abbott-Watt most recently served as the Ambassador to Turkmenistan. She has also served as Ambassador to Armenia and Mongolia.

Robin Ord-Smith was originally appointed to the post in Tonga last year but is now Kyrgyzstan's Business Ombudsman.