A Chara Lá Fhéile Pádraig sona daoibh
Yes, granted, we’re a bit late in saying that, but although it’s only one day, St. Patrick’s Day does tend to be the flavour of the month for the Irish community and this year was no different.
We had a host of events during the month organised by community groups including dinners and horse racing, a ministerial visit, and a joint celebration with AmCham.
So, in this, our first totally mask-free newsletter in ages (we did however wash our hands before writing this as your safety and comfort are a priority), we’ll be looking back at those events and looking forward to even more in April.
There will also be a quick, and slightly belated, rundown of the key points of the Hong Kong budget which this year was themed: “Leaping Forward Steadily, Together We Bolster Prosperity Under Our New Vision” which is nice.
We’ll also be answering a burning and often troubling question for many at this time of year, why is everything coloured green on St. Patrick’s Day when the national colour of Ireland is actually blue?
Answer at the end of this newsletter. |
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A Grand Ball First up and making a much welcome return was the superb St. Patrick's Society of Hong Kong annual ball. Celebrating their 90th-year, the committee once again poured their hearts and souls into a marvellous event enjoyed by all.
The well-attended event was also a chance for our very own President Pádraig Seif and Vice-President Henry Au to meet with Consul General David Costello who sadly is marking his last St. Patrick’s Day in Hong Kong after five terrific years. It won’t be the same without him. |
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Along with Irish Thoroughbred Marketing the Society also co-organised the Ireland Trophy at Happy Valley where Minister for Environment, Climate, Communications and Transport Eamon Ryan was on hand to present the cup. |
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In a busy schedule, Minister Ryan also visited the West Kowloon Railway Station which connects to China's high-speed rail system, attended our National Day Reception where he met members of the Irish community, and joined the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) Global Leaders Dialogue to talk about climate change and green finance ecosystem. |
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Galloping on (sorry), members of the Chamber were out in force again for one of the highlights of the month.
This time, a joint celebration with AmCham at a networking mixer, where with drinks firmly in hand and nibbling delicately at some fine food, they listened to an enthralling speech from AmCham former Chairman Jim Thompson, a proud Irish American, who shared his business journey and personal connection to Ireland, the US and Hong Kong. |
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And On To The Rugby.
Our Rugby Sevens Dinner made a glittering return. Held at the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, the event provided spectacular views, great food and all the rugby you could eat as guests mingled and connected with fellow dinners.
A huge thank you to our event sponsors: Kroll, BRIS Consulting, ADM Group, Boase Cohen & Collins, Enterprise Ireland, and Asia GAA. |
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Speaking of rugby, we would be remiss if we didn’t also send our warmest congratulations to Andy Farrell’s team for clinching a historic 29-16 win over England to become Six Nations Grand Slam Champions, the first time an Irish side has won the slam in Dublin. Which is a good point at which to answer the question we posed at the start of this newsletter, why green?
Green, green, everywhere is green. If you answered it’s because the Americans do it, and everyone just naturally followed on, or it’s to do with Shamrocks, you’d be partly right.
There are references to green crosses being worn on St. Patrick’s Day as early as the 17th Century, probably because legend has it, he used Shamrocks to explain the Holy Trinity to Irish pagans in the 5th Century.
But it’s also been a symbol of Irish independence.
A green flag emblazoned with a harp was flown by Irish leader Eoghan Ruadh Ó Néill on his return to Ireland in 1642 to join the 1641 rebellion and may have been chosen deliberately as a counterpoint to the harp on a blue background which was associated with the old “Kingdom of Ireland” set up in 1542 by Henry VIII and the blue with three crowns from even earlier in the 15th Century.
Green was also the colour chosen for their banner by the United Irishmen in the 18th Century and the description of Ireland as the “The Emerald Isle”was used in a poem by William Drennan, one of its founders. Following their failed uprising, wearing green as a symbol of loyalty to their cause was a capital offence.
Many immigrants to American will have carried these associations with them.
Later green became more associated with Ireland in the tricolour flag (an trídhathach) as the aspiration for a future Irish State, with green representing the Catholic community, orange (not gold as you may have been told) representing the minority Protestants and white the symbol of peace and inclusion of all people within an independent Ireland.
The oldest known reference to the use of the three colours as a national emblem date back to the 19th Century, but a green flag with a harp remained the undisputed favourite until the Easter Rising in 1916 when the tricolour was raised over the GPO in Dublin. (Yes, we know green flags with various emblems were also raised, so please don’t write in.)
So, there you have it and you can now go off and bore people endlessly at parties with your new found knowledge.
P.S. If you happen to fly the national flag (bratach na hÉireann)at home or in the office (and who doesn’t) replace it when it gets old. When the orange turns more like yellow it sort of losses its point. |
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Lastly. No, we didn’t forget. Here are the key points of the Hong Kong budget as promised. - Reduce salaries tax and tax under personal assessment for the 2022/23 assessment year by 100%, subject to a $6,000 ceiling.
- Reduce profits tax for the assessment year 2022/23 by 100%, subject to a $6,000 ceiling.
- From the 2023/24 assessment year, increase the basic child allowance and the additional child allowance for each child born during the year of assessment from $120,000 to $130,000.
- Issue $5,000 electronic consumption vouchers to each eligible Hong Kong permanent resident and new arrival aged 18 or above in two instalments.
- Provide rates concession for domestic properties for the first two quarters of 2023/24, subject to a $1,000 ceiling per quarter.
- Provide rates concession for non-domestic properties for the first two quarters of 2023/24, subject to a ceiling of $1,000 per quarter.
- Extend the temporary special measures of the Public Transport Fare Subsidy Scheme for six months (to October 2023.)
- Grant each eligible residential electricity account a subsidy of $1,000.
- Grant 50% rental fee concession to eligible tenants of government premises and short-term tenancies and waivers for 6 months.
- Extend the application period of all guaranteed products under the SME Financing Guarantee Scheme to March 2024.
- Offer fully guaranteed loans for eligible passenger transport operators and licensed travel agents. To be launched in April this year.
- Extend the Travel Agents Incentive Scheme to June 2023.
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We’d also like to welcome our newest corporate member, Air Mount Technic (Hong Kong) Ltd.
With parts suppliers now consolidated into a few industry titans controlled primarily by the large OEMs, airlines face higher end-user costs and longer lead times.
With secure access to a large inventory of items in short supply and high demand, Air Mount Technic can provide timely and cost-effective supplies of aircraft parts and accessories ranging from high-volume consumables to key components and systems.
For more information and to contact them, visit their website here. |
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| Harp Networking Event | 
| Apr 20, 2023
(6:00 PM - 9:00 PM) (GMT+8) |
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| Delaney's Tsim Sha Tsui
Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR (China) |
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P.S. if you’ve enjoyed reading this … Then why not join our all new, and very exciting, Whatsapp group. This group will provide members with an easy way to stay up to date on the latest news, events, and updates from the Chamber. |
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P.P.S. Oh, and one more thing… If you haven’t already, why not join us?
The Irish Chamber can offer you the kind of support, advice and network you won’t get anywhere else.
You know good business is about connections and opportunities, but without the first you won’t get the second.
Our members have a wealth of experience in a wide range of fields across international borders, all of which can help you save time, energy, and money. So join us, you know it makes sense. |
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The Irish Chamber of Commerce of Hong Kong Unit 1, 16th Floor, Gee Tuck Building, 16-20 Bonham Strand East, Sheung Wan
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