Netherlands Message

The Netherlands celebrates Queen’s Day, 30 April, 2011

On April 30th everyone in Holland will celebrate Queen’s Day. The canals in Amsterdam will turn orange, the Dutch national colour. The large Dutch community in Hong Kong will surely bring a touch of orange to Hong Kong! I want to seize this opportunity to commemorate the excellent relations between the people and the governments of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

I like to compare Hong Kong and the Netherlands because they are alike in character and mindset. Both are small in size, but big in economic terms. An open, internationally oriented economy is the essence of both Hong Kong and the Netherlands. Whereas Hong Kong is the entrance for many international companies to the Chinese hinterland and vice versa, Holland is the gateway to Europe. Especially to Germany, Europe’s biggest economy.

Hong Kong and the Netherlands enjoy extensive economic ties. Many Dutch multinationals are present in Hong Kong with their regional headquarters. The largest Dutch business community (6,000) is to be found in Hong Kong. We see an increasing number of SME’s setting up shop in Hong Kong in all kinds of niche markets. They are filled with ambition and use Hong Kong as a stepping stone for further expansion in Asia. Vice versa we have some major Hong Kong companies investing in the Netherlands. A very fruitful relationship.

My profound wish is that Hong Kong and the Netherlands will enjoy the close relationship we have today for many generations to come! Let us jointly work for the prosperity of our people in the year of the Rabbit.

Robert Schuddeboom

Consul-General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

荷蘭全國人民將於四月三十日慶祝女王日。荷蘭的國家顏色是橙色，屆時阿姆斯特丹的各條運河將會呈現一片橙色。香港龐大的荷蘭社群亦會把橙色帶到香港。藉此機會，本人亦慶祝香港特別行政區政府和人民與荷蘭王國之間的良好關係。

本人喜歡把香港與荷蘭作出比較是因為兩地的特質與心態很相似。兩地都是面積雖小，但經濟規模大。香港和荷蘭都是開放型和國際化的經濟體。香港是很多國際性公司進軍中國內地的通道，而荷蘭則是進入歐洲、特別是歐洲最大經濟體 – 德國的門檻。

香港與荷蘭擁有具深度的經濟連繫。現有很多荷蘭跨國公司在香港設立其他地區性總部，在香港亦有約六千人的荷蘭社群。我們看到中小型企業在香港各類型的商場開設商舖的數字正在增加，他們充滿雄心壯志，並以香港為進一步擴展亞洲業務的踏腳石。與此同時，亦有一些香港大型公司在荷蘭作出投資。因此，我們兩地的關係是豐碩的。

本人祝願香港與荷蘭今天享有的緊密關係將會世代保持下去。讓我們在兔年，為我們人民的興旺而共同努力！