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Visiting Hong Kong this week, a few days before Ireland’s National Day – St Patrick’s Day – I understand why the Irish community here is large and enduring. This is a unique, dynamic and exciting place. Ireland and Hong Kong have a long history, based on people-to-people ties. I see this most immediately in some of the street and place names here such as Staunton Street, Connaught Road and Kennedy Town.
The Ireland-Hong Kong economic relationship is also strong and we share real similarities as “connectors”: Ireland as the gateway to the European Union and Hong Kong as the gateway to and from China. Freedom, openness and global-mindedness have been key to the development of our economies, as small, outward-looking places, and those same values will likewise be key to ensuring our future economic successes.
St Patrick’s Day is an opportunity for friends of Ireland in Hong Kong, and around the world, to join in a celebration of Ireland. We know that we are truly fortunate to have a national day so many people enjoy.
We know too, however, that enjoyable days are not in abundance everywhere this March. Conflicts continue to devastate lives across the world, fuelling hunger and displacement. The impacts of climate change are being felt in more and varied ways.
Last month we marked the third anniversary of Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine. Ireland’s message is clear: there can be no solution concerning Ukraine, without Ukraine. Ireland stands in solidarity with Ukraine, now and in the future.
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