The Irish community in Hong Kong has always been small in numbers but nonetheless has made a significant contribution to its social fabric and economic development over the past 150 years. Nowhere has that been more evident than the important role played by Irish religious orders involved in local education. The Columban Fathers and Sisters, La Salle Brothers and the Jesuits have all left an indelible mark and brought with them the highest standards of education underpinned by strong principals and a solid sense of community, service and purpose. 

Many leading local figures in arts, business, culture, engineering, law, science, government and civil service have been among the tens of thousands of students who have attended Catholic schools run by Irish priests and nuns. Among the best known are the La Salle and Wah Yan colleges. It is estimated that over 10,000 students from Hong Kong have graduated from universities in Ireland over the years, and many more have honed their English language skills on short-term language learning programs in what has recently become the only European Union country whose first official language is English. The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland has also educated hundreds of Hong Kong surgeons, many of whom are providing front-line medical care today.  

Irish societies have also played a vital role in promoting the relationship between the two places. The St. Patrick’s Society was formed in 1931 to support Irish people living and working here as well as to introduce Irish traditions, culture and heritage to the broader communities, through a mixture of social gatherings and events. The best-known of these is the annual St. Patrick’s Ball, which for many years has been viewed as one of the major social events in the busy local calendar and has touched the hearts of many across the community over the years.

A more recent addition to Hong Kong was the Gaelic Athletic Association in 1995. Ireland’s largest sporting organization boasts a presence on every continent. It is intrinsic to the traditions and cultural values of the Irish way of life, binding the diaspora together across the globe. It promotes hurling, comogie and Gaelic football, sports that are native to the country, alongside more popular sports and activities including a local favorite, dragon boat racing. The association is renowned for its camaraderie and community outreach encouraging men, women and children of all ages from all walks of life to participate in sport while promoting the holistic benefits and companionship which results.

The first St. Patrick’s Day Parade to commemorate Ireland’s patron saint was organized in Hong Kong in 2015, and an abundance of green-clad revelers of all ages participated and enjoyed the food, traditional music and dance along a route between the Central Ferry Pier and Tamar. In recent years, the clock tower in Tsim Sha Tsui has been illuminated in a spectacular shade of green, becoming the highlight of the harbor front, but from Dublin to New York, Chicago to Sydney, March 17 has become an important day on the festive calendar.

Over the years, there have been many high-level government visits between the two places but the opening of the Consulate General of Ireland in 2014 greatly enhanced relations and resulted in stronger business links and accelerated the growth trade between both sides.

Enterprise Ireland has been active here for more than 20 years. It is the government agency responsible for the development and growth of Irish companies around the world. It combines local knowledge, market data and analysis with on-the-ground support and helps identify suitable partners and market opportunities. With over 50 offices around the world, its objective is to help Irish companies enter new markets and achieve sustainable growth. The Irish Chamber of Commerce is a very highly regarded volunteer organization and has played a key role in developing and facilitating commercial links between both locations.

The primary attraction of Hong Kong from an Irish business perspective is the depth of financial services, fintech and regulatory process management technology, or regtech, which provide many significant opportunities for Irish companies. Hong Kong is also one of the main regional hubs for the electronics industry and less than an hour from Shenzhen, which is considered one of the most innovative electronics centers in the world. It also remains an excellent entry point for an increasing number of Irish companies that are keen to enter the lucrative mainland market and develop their regional presence.  

Hong Kong accounts for more than half of the investment in data center development across the Asia-Pacific region in 2020. This is due to the growth in 5G, ecommerce, cloud computing and the internet of things, which continued against a backdrop of global economic uncertainty, trade wars and in the midst of COVID-19. So despite the sometime choppy economic forecasts, certain sectors continue to have a bright future.

Unfortunately, the suspension of direct flights between Dublin and Hong Kong late last year was a blow to streamlining a valuable direct trade route that, although still at an early stage, was beginning to bear fruit. It was also particularly difficult for the aviation industry where both sides had worked tirelessly over a number of years to get the route operational, and in the current climate it is unlikely that the direct connection will resume anytime soon.  

There are similarities between Hong Kong and Ireland. The latter is a small island in the EU, offering friendly and supportive access to a market of over 500 million people. Ireland underwent massive economic development and transformation. It moved from a low-income base to become a global leader in high-tech manufacturing and advanced services, and is regarded as one of the most open and sophisticated economies in the world.  

The strength of the relationship will continue to define future economic success and be driven by dynamic entrepreneurs that understand the benefits of alignment when entering each other’s key markets.

The author is chairman of the Multitude Foundation.

The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.