I am referring to various Chinese government officials at local level for various business purposes. I can't go into too much detail for the sake of preserving my anonymity (not theirs).

Although, I must admit I have enjoyed the pleasure of getting shitfaced with some local officials, possibly on the taxpayers expense. That wasn't even for business or anything. My friend owned a bar and those kind of guys happen to be his friends, that just always put everything on expenses.

Yes, consulate staff are on the whole pretty useless (due to limited authority), but I recently managed to get a suspected paedophile deported back to the U.K, thanks to my interactions with them.