He began serving in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1967, where he worked his way up from entry-level case officer to vice minister.
他於一九六八年通過外交領事人員乙種特考，受訓後進外交部服務，從基層的檔案資料處薦任科員做起，後至歐洲司掌法、比事務，任駐美大使館秘書，又至北美司服務，擔任科長。