荷蘭駐香港總領事 莫尉峰 獻辭

荷蘭駐香港總領事 莫尉峰 獻辭

荷蘭於四月二十七日慶祝國慶日，該日是威廉‧亞力山大陛下壽辰日。全國各地都會舉行活動慶祝這節日。香港的大型荷蘭社群定會把橙色 – 我國的民族色彩帶進香港。

本人想抓着此時機，慶祝香港特別行政區與荷蘭王國政府與人民之間的良好關係。香港與荷蘭有許多相同之處，我們都是地域小並只有有限的可用空間。這促使我們在土地開發和城市規劃方面更為高效和創新。其次，在經濟方面，我們都把精力聚於力量之上；香港與荷蘭都是開放、國際化、創新和具活力的經濟體。我們兩地的經濟都是以服務業為主導，我們都定位於作為廣闊腹地的通道。香港是許多國際公司進軍中國內地市場的通道，反之亦然，荷蘭是通往歐洲的通道。

香港和荷蘭享有廣泛的經濟連繫，現時有許多荷蘭跨國公司在香港設立其亞洲或太平洋總部，我們還看到有越來越多的中小企業在香港開設店舖。這些公司主要從事金融服務、創意工業(建築、設計和時裝)、農業、運輸和物流、廢物管理和可持續性。荷蘭公司視香港為家並雄心勃勃地以香港為進一步擴展亞洲業務的踏腳石。反之亦然，一些大型的香港公司已在荷蘭投資，為當地創造就業機會和創造財富方面作出貢獻！

我們兩地雙邊關係的第二個領域是科學合作，幾乎所有荷蘭的大學都有與香港的大學交往，每年度超過三百名荷蘭學生前往香港參加學士階段學業的交流研討會，而人數相若的香港學生也為相同的目的前往荷蘭。此外，還有大學教授任教的碩士班以及尋求相互合作等。烏德勒支大學與香港中文大學已設立一間聯合研究中心，而人民與人民的接觸是我們關係的重要基石。

至於第三個領域便是文化層面。本總領事館於四月份第二次以「荷蘭日」為標題組織一系列的文化藝術活動，把古今荷蘭優秀的藝術、文化與創意在香港作出展示和推廣。多元化的節目包括從展覽至講座、從電影至美食以及分享知識研討會等。

本人深切期望，香港與荷蘭現今享有的緊密關係能世代傳承下去！讓我們兩地人民為猴年的興旺而共同努力！

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Message from Mr. Wilfred Mohr, Consul General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Hong Kong
The Netherlands celebrates King's Day, 27 April

The Netherlands celebrates its National Day on April 27th, the birthday of his Majesty King Willem-Alexander. Festivities will be organized all over the country to mark this festive event. The large Dutch community in Hong Kong will surely bring a touch of orange, our national colour, to Hong Kong!

I want to seize this opportunity to commemorate the excellent relationship between the people and the governments of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Hong Kong and the Netherlands have many things in common. We are both small in size and have limited useable space. This makes us efficient and innovative when it comes to land exploitation and urban planning. Secondly, in economic terms, however we both punch way above our weights: both Hong Kong and the Netherlands have open, internationally oriented, innovative and vibrant economies. Our economies are service oriented and we position ourselves as Gateways to vast hinterlands. Whereas Hong Kong is the entrance for many international companies to the Chinese market and vice versa, the Netherlands is the gateway to Europe.

Hong Kong and the Netherlands enjoy extensive economic ties. Many Dutch multinationals are present in Hong Kong with their Asia/Pacific headquarters. We see an increasing number of SME's setting up shop in Hong Kong. Key sectors in which they operate are financial services, creative industry (architecture, design and fashion), agriculture, transport and logistics, waste management and sustainability. Dutch companies feel at home in Hong Kong, are filled with ambition and use Hong Kong as a stepping stone for further expansion in Asia. Vice versa, some major Hong Kong companies have invested in the Netherlands and contribute both in employment and wealth creation.

A second focus area in our bilateral relationship is science co-operation. Nearly all Dutch universities have contacts with the universities in Hong Kong. Over 300 Dutch students come to HK annually for an exchange seminar in the Bachelor phase of their studies. An equal number of HK students travel to the Netherlands for the same purpose. Furthermore university professors conduct master classes and seek mutual cooperation. Utrecht University and CUHK have set up a joint research Center. These people to people contacts are an important cornerstone of our relationship.

A third area is the cultural dimension. During the month of April, the Consulate is organizing, for the second time, a series of art and cultural events, under the slogan 'Dutch Days' dedicated to showcase and promote the Dutch excellence in arts, culture & creativity. A diverse programme was offered from exhibitions to lectures, from cinema to gastronomy and knowledge sharing seminars.

It is my profound wish that Hong Kong and the Netherlands enjoy the close relationship that we have today for many generations to come! Let us jointly work for the prosperity of our peoples in the year of the Monkey.