Vanuatu’s Consul General in Guangzhou, Jacques Himford, has denied that the consulate or its officials were involved in alleged gambling activities uncovered at its premises, saying a trusted individual used the property without authorization.
Jacques Himford
In an official statement reported by the Vanuatu Daily Post, Himford said the individual had been granted access to the consulate but later abused that trust.
He said the premises were used without the consulate’s knowledge, authorization or consent for activities connected to the case.
“The Consulate strongly condemns any unauthorized use of its premises,” Himford said, adding that the individual’s actions did not represent the consulate or the Vanuatu government.
Himford did not identify the individual. He said he understood that the person had been detained and subsequently released on bail, while related legal proceedings remained ongoing.
The consulate has also initiated legal proceedings against the individual over the alleged breach of trust and unauthorized use of its premises, according to the statement.
Himford stressed that the person’s release on bail should not be interpreted as indicating the outcome of the case. He said he would refrain from disclosing further details that could affect the proceedings.
The consul general also said the investigation by the relevant Chinese authorities concluded in 2025. The consulate cooperated throughout the process and supplied requested information, documents and supporting evidence, he added.
Relevant materials were also submitted to the Vanuatu government to demonstrate that the consulate and its officials were not involved, according to Himford.
The statement follows reports that Chinese authorities uncovered alleged gambling rooms operating inside the consular premises between January and April 2025.
A diplomatic letter sent by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Vanuatu Embassy in Beijing in September 2025 said a criminal gang had allegedly established the rooms and recruited people to gamble there.
The case returned to public attention after Vanuatu’s opposition filed a report with the Ombudsman, seeking an investigation into the government’s handling of the Chinese diplomatic complaint.
The Ombudsman’s Office previously confirmed that it was assessing whether further inquiries were warranted. Vanuatu’s foreign ministry said the matter had been resolved in 2025 but did not disclose what action had been taken.
