By Joe Ray.
Mid-February is always a lively period in the Dutch social calendar, as the country’s large expatriate community marks the passage of Chinese New Year and looks ahead to what the coming twelve months may bring.
A highlight for many in The Hague is the annual celebration hosted by the Hong Kong Netherlands Chamber of Commerce together with the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office Brussels.
On 7 February 2018 the historic Societeit de Witte in The Hague was once again the venue for an entertaining evening of music, food and networking.
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Guests were welcomed by Ms. Shirley Lamb, Special Representative for Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs to the EU, who highlighted the close relationship between Hong Kong and the Netherlands and looked ahead to some of the many economic opportunities that the new year will bring.
These include an increased level of participation by Hong Kong in China’s Belt and Road Initiative and several major regional development projects involving Dutch and other overseas companies.
Ms Lamb noted that Hong Kong’s focus on technology has led to the publication of the first Smart City Blueprint – an outline for the future which promotes high-tech innovation as a means of creating a cleaner, safer, more efficient and more prosperous city.
The audience was then addressed by Mr Hans Poulis, Chair of the Netherlands Hong Kong Business Association, and Mr George Ammerlaan, Chair of the Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce in the Netherlands.
Both praised the strong business ties between Hong Kong and the Netherlands and remarked on some of the key trends in the already strong bilateral relationship.
After toasting the forthcoming Year of the Dog, guests were treated to a remarkable marimba performance by Fiona Foo Pui-yee, one of the world’s leading marimba soloists. The marimba is a percussion instrument consisting of a set of wooden bars struck with mallets to produce musical tones. Resonators suspended underneath the bars amplify their sound.
Ms Pui-yee’s performance was as novel as it was energetic; for many in the room this was their first experience of marimba music, and it left a lasting impression.
The performance culminated in a lively rendition of ‘Shall We Dance’, an innovative piece written by Ms. Pui-yee featuring a remarkable 8-mallet grip.
After the performance, the event was concluded with a buffet and networking reception.
