Message from the Consulate General of Ireland: Job opportunities and other reflections
News
03 September 2020Dear Friends
Sunday (30 August) marked 101 years since the birth in Loughrea, County Galway of Kathleen Gertrude Monahan in 1919. One of nine children, the family lived in the town of Ballinasloe in east Galway. She was educated at Loreto Convent, Navan, County Meath and joined the Missionary Sisters of St Columban in April 1939, taking the name ‘Sister Mary Aquinas’. Arriving in Hong Kong in January 1949, aged just 28, she was appointed medical superintendent of the Ruttonjee Sanatorium and led a group of Irish Columban sisters which made an indelible contribution to Hong Kong in fighting tuberculosis, the top cause of death in the post-war period. Sister Aquinas built up a global reputation as an authority on tuberculosis and related medical problems. She was also active in other forms of social care, including the Action Committee Against Narcotics (ACAN) and the Society for the Aid and Rehabilitation of Drug Abusers (SARDA), of which she was chairman from 1981 up to the time of her last illness.
Her contribution to medicine in Hong Kong and her dedicated service to the community were recognised by the University of Hong Kong with an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Social Science in 1978. She passed away on 28 November 1985 at the Ruttonjee Sanatorium, after a short illness, and is buried in Happy Valley cemetery.
The Missionary Sisters of St Columban story is a snapshot of the immense contribution that the Irish have made in Hong Kong over the past 200 years. As Ireland’s representative in Hong Kong, the enormous achievements of the Columban Sisters fills me with great pride and, in this year of the pandemic, it is timely to recall that Hong Kong has previously navigated seemingly intractable medical challenges. So on these last days of summer, I want to express my deep admiration for our community of Irish medical professionals – as well as their Hong Kong and international colleagues – for their dedication and commitment to tackling the public health and pandemic challenge. Diversity and international collaboration has always been part of the Hong Kong DNA and I look forward to Ireland continuing to being part of that narrative in Hong Kong.
Job Opportunity with the Consulate
In this spirit, I am also delighted to draw your attention to an opportunity for someone to make their own mark working for Ireland in Hong Kong and Macao. Yes, the Consulate is recruiting! We are seeking to recruit a resourceful, proactive and flexible individual with relevant previous experience to fill the position of “Executive Support & Public Outreach Officer”. The successful candidate must also have a legal entitlement to live and work in Hong Kong SAR prior to recruitment. If you know someone who fulfils the criteria, we’d love to hear from them!
We are committed to a policy of Equal Opportunity and details of the opportunity are here
Tackling the Pandemic
It has been great to see Hong Kong coming to grips with the third wave of the pandemic with infection rates dropping dramatically and some easing to social restrictions in recent days. I am mindful of the increased loss of life experienced in recent weeks and our sympathies are with those impacted. I have also been thinking about the senior members of our community in recent months, many whom have spent a lifetime in Hong Kong and contributed so much to the social fabric. While I have managed to touch base with some, it has been particularly heartening to see the outreach to the senior members of the community by others to ensure that they are being cared for at this difficult time.
In a year where “social distancing” has been the pervasive narrative, distancing should not be equated with loneliness. It is important to pay attention to mental health at this time! With just 6 weeks until World Mental Health Day on 10 October, can you spare a few minutes a week to reach out to individuals – particularly the more senior members – that may have dropped out of our social circles and ask the question “How Okay are You?”.
Irish people living in Hong Kong who need emotional support can also contact Samaritans in Ireland on Freephone number +852 300 17063. This Freephone service is being provided in partnership with the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade.
Consular Services
The Consulate Offices has remained open and we continue to offer a counter service, by appointment only. Please email us on hongkong@dfa.ie if you require an appointment.
We take customer safety seriously and we are employing the highest standards of protection and hygiene. The Consulate is delighted to be partnering with the Irish company, Novaerus, by deploying its patented plasma ‘killing’ technology that quickly dis-infects the air in shops, offices, waiting rooms and any building where people share an indoor space. The portable air dis-infection device is powered by technology that has been independently proven to kill 99.99pc of a surrogate SARS-CoV-2 virus. For companies examining their back-to-work protocols, the Novaerus technology can close the hygiene loop by eliminating any viral particles in the air. Details can be found here and don’t hesitate to get in contact if you would like an introduction.
I’m also delighted to hear that a Hong Kong-based Irish company, Image Deep, is at the forefront of the pandemic prevention measures. While the world awaits a vaccine, Image Deep have moved to quick develop an AI System to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Installed in schools, airports and hospitals this proven fever-detection technology is an invaluable part of protecting the more vulnerable members of the community. Image Deep is owned and managed by our own Niall Dorr and details are available here.
Back to School
While there are too many reminders of our changed reality – postponed elections, no foreign travel, universal community testing, no events – a welcome return to some normality is the resumption of schools this week, with face-to-face classes resuming in a few weeks. Ordinarily we would be busy sending out the invitations to our First Friday Breakfast and our annual event to celebrate Teacher’s Day in Hong Kong on 10 September. These will be postponed until social restrictions permit larger gatherings. In the meantime, I extend our best wishes to our large (in excess of 100) community of teachers and educators in Hong Kong and Macao for the coming weeks.
Best Wishes
David Costello
Consul General