Interview about the Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Hong Kong and Macau with Maurits ter Kuile

Interview with Maurits ter Kuile, Consul General of the Netherlands to Hong Kong and Macau

Could you introduce yourself and your role as Consul General in Hong Kong and Macau?

My name is Maurits ter Kuile, and since July, I have been serving as the Consul General in Hong Kong and Macau for the Netherlands. Our consulate is part of the China network of the Netherlands and operates under the Dutch embassy in Beijing. The consulate primarily focusses on economic cooperation, cultural cooperation, public diplomacy, and consular affairs.

How have you and your family experienced life in Hong Kong so far?

It has been a wonderful experience. My wife was already familiar with Hong Kong from past work trips, making it easier to roll back into her old social network. For me, stepping into this new role has been fascinating – meeting people eager to collaborate with the Netherlands. Our agendas have been full, and we have felt really welcome in Hong Kong. Developments in the last decade have affected Hong Kong’s image abroad, but the city still feels as international, thriving, and dynamic. I initially pictured Hong Kong as a busy city full of skyscrapers but after we arrived, I started to discover how much green there is. The balance between nature and urban areas in Hong Kong is remarkable. It is a great experience both working and living here.

What motivates you the most in your role as Consul General?

Being a diplomat for the Netherlands is something I really enjoy, especially to represent the Netherlands abroad and to work for freedom, security and the welfare of the Netherlands while also supporting Dutch citizens in need of our consular services. On a personal level, diplomacy gives you an entry ticket into all layers of society. I meet people that are very eager to share their experiences and explore cooperation opportunities between the Netherlands and Hong Kong.

What are the main themes in the cooperation between the Netherlands and Hong Kong?

With the new cabinet in the Netherlands, there are also new priorities. Commissioned by our Minister for Trade and Development, we are looking at the earning capacity of the Netherlands in Hong Kong, together with the Dutch Chamber. We will map out how companies contribute to that and how we can further boost these operations by exploring business opportunities for new and returning Dutch companies in Hong Kong. Our focus is on identifying areas that are relevant for both the Netherlands and Hong Kong such as sustainable textile, digital design, healthcare, aging populations, airport development, sustainable building, architecture, and floating solutions. We have a solid Dutch business community in Hong Kong which we engage with. They are active in a wide range of sectors, such as finance, logistics, sourcing, engineering, agri-food, and sustainability.

Furthermore, as Hong Kong is emerging from a difficult period, we have a role in having a dialogue on these matters, which we do in cooperation with the European Union Delegation in Hong Kong.

Finally, we support cultural cooperation between the Netherlands and Hong Kong, preferably with a message. Examples are the Netherlands Film festival and a photo exhibition on resilience of women and girls.

Do the same themes that you focus on in Hong Kong also apply to Macau?

Our engagement with Macau is more limited due to its smaller Dutch community and fewer direct business connections. While Hong Kong is our primary focus, we keep engaging with the authorities of Macau. A new Chief Executive has recently been appointed, and I look forward to meeting him this spring to hear about his vision for Macau. Moreover, there are some notable projects with Dutch involvement, such as the design of a public library by Mecanoo architects and an exhibition at the Grand Lisboa Palace with input from JNLED. I am interested in learning more about these projects and other potential areas of collaboration in Macau.

At the New Year's reception, you spoke about 2050. Does the consulate have long-term plans as well?

We operate under the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led by Minister Veldkamp for Foreign Affairs and Minister Klever for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation. Each new cabinet sets its own government priorities, and the ministry updates its budget annually. Our activities must align with these shifting policies, making very long-term planning impractical. Instead, we focus on annual plans in cooperation with the embassy of Beijing. We try to look beyond the immediate future to monitor societal developments, public demands and to pre-position ourselves effectively to serve the Dutch population.

Of course, some long-term questions remain relevant. For example, during my initial meetings with the Chinese and Hong Kong authorities, one of my main questions was how do you foresee one country, two systems in 2047? This principle is the foundation of Hong Kong current position and serves as a pillar of its status as international financial hub – supporting elements like the dollar peg and the common law system. For Hong Kong to maintain this position and for Dutch companies to continue operating in that system, it is crucial to understand how mainland China plans to approach Hong Kong’s future after 2047. My counterparts have assured me that the system is here to stay which is of course highly relevant.

How does the consulate support Dutch businesses in Hong Kong?

Some companies interested in doing business in Hong Kong first reach out to the Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland (RVO) in the Netherlands, but many Dutch companies know the way to our economic department.  The team advises them on tenders, business opportunities, guide them on sectoral developments and facilitate introductions. We also organise events for networking but also to generate more awareness of what Dutch expertise has to offer. Two nice examples are a Symposium on Sustainable Building and a Symposium on the Northern Metropolis which we co-organised with Arcadis and our Hong Kong network including government entities. We help them to understand the local ecosystem, including government and business operations and we refer them to other interesting organisations such as the Dutch Chamber.

We actively engage with the Dutch network in Hong Kong, maintaining close ties with the members of the Dutch Chamber of Commerce and other Dutch companies to gain insights into their experiences. Additionally, we serve as a networking platform, hosting events in the multi-purpose room or at the residence to connect relevant parties. We also coordinate with RVO on different trade missions that come our way, and we connect with Dutch delegations at trade fairs. In June a Dutch delegation will visit Hong Kong on sustainable fashion and later this year a delegation on airport development and sustainable building. Our strong position allows us to engage with the Hong Kong government. If a Dutch company has difficulty engaging with the local government, we can also be of assistance in these conversations.

How do you see the economic development in and around Hong Kong affecting the future of Dutch businesses?

Hong Kong is currently facing economic challenges, and the government has signalled that this will be reflected in the upcoming budget for Hong Kong. However, the city remains ambitious with initiatives like the Northern Metropolis offering opportunities for bilateral cooperation. In addition, the city retains significant strategic value. As a one-country, two-systems region, Hong Kong serves as a springboard to doing business with mainland China. Additionally, it remains a major financial hub with a highly educated, English-speaking talent pool. This makes Hong Kong an attractive city for Dutch businesses looking to expand in the region.

What role does the Consulate play in promoting sustainability locally and internationally?

The international goals are set by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Dutch cabinet, meaning that policies like emission reductions and climate conference engagement are mostly driven from the Hague rather than here. However, these topics affect people worldwide, making it a good basis for cooperation with mainland China and Hong Kong.

Locally, we try to implement these policies through cooperation and knowledge exchange. Diplomacy is a two-way street – we bring Dutch expertise to Hong Kong, while also learning from local initiatives. A good example is the cooperation between Dutch organisation Circo as an expert in circularity who engaged in a cooperation with Hong Kong’s Business Environment Council and has trained 7 big Hong Kong companies including Gammon and the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

What has been the biggest challenge you have faced in the position in Hong Kong so far?

The first months in a new position and a new country or city are always exciting. Processing new impressions and making sense of everything is a positive challenge. In the first half year in Hong Kong, I have met many different people and organisations, and I have been involved in many activities, most of which were already established before my arrival. In the coming period, I will be increasing my personal contribution to our work at the consulate and strengthen our collaboration with our partners.

What do you consider your greatest achievements so far and what key accomplishments would you like to look back on at the end of your term?

The greatest achievement is having established a strong foothold – having been able to start building a relevant network and hosting quite a few events at the Residence.

As a consulate, our main priority is to serve the Netherlands well and to ensure strong relations on multiple levels including in academic cooperation, business collaboration or government-to-government exchanges. Ideally, we would also like to see improved overall relations between China and the Netherlands.

On a more personal level, one of my key goals for the consulate for this year is to engage with women's organisations in Hong Kong. The consulate will reflect upon the progress made since the United Nations Women Conference in Beijing 30 years ago and assess Hong Kong’s current standing on gender equality and women’s rights. Given the Netherlands’ dedicated support for women rights, this is a key area for dialogue in Hong Kong.