June 2025 Newsletter
A Chara
Right, we just want to clarify from the start that this is the June newsletter … Not May and June … or May, June and a bit of April.
It’s all about June … except the bits which aren’t.
So now we’ve cleared that up and can confirm the self-styled literary genius who writes this nonsense is now healthy again (at least physically) we’d like to dive in with an upcoming event we’re very excited about.
(Oh, by the way, before we move on, we still haven’t heard from our lone newsletter reader in Antarctica.
We were concerned and planned to send a Red Cross parcel, until we looked at the postal rates.
Sorry, you’re on your own, although we are sending lots of positive thoughts, a well-known cure for frostbite.)
Coming Up
Hong Kong's first-ever Irish-Mexican business networking event.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Ireland and Mexico, which seems like the perfect excuse to boost those diplomatic bonds with a networking mixer featuring Irish whiskey and beer, along with Mexican tequila and tacos.
Mexico has become Ireland's largest trading partner in Latin America and one of the objectives of the Global Ireland Strategy (for Latin America and the Caribbean) is to enhance engagement with Mexico, so join in as we do our bit to foster closer ties along with the Mexican Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong (MexCham HK).
Date: Thursday, July 3, 2025
Time: 6:30 – 9:30 pm
Venue: Steelcase WorkLife Hong Kong, 15/F, Kinwick Centre, 32 Hollywood Road, Central
Sign up here
We also have a special offer from Young Professionals member Vincent Yeung, formerly a lawyer in Hong Kong who decided to drop the law and follow his dream of becoming a therapist.
This practical and interactive course will equip you with the skills to recognize and support individuals facing mental health challenges like anxiety, depression, substance misuse, and psychosis, and teaches you to provide immediate support and guide those in need to professional help.
Workshop Details:
Dates: 7, 14, 21, 28 August 2025 (Thursdays)
Time: 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Venue: Room 901, 9/F, Waga Commercial Centre, 99 Wellington Street, Central
Regular Price: HK$1,150
Special Member Price: HK$850 (includes official certificate and training manual)
Registration is mandatory, and spaces are limited.
Reserve your spot today by registering here:
Register Now
June in Hong Kong
We were delighted to co-host the Young Professionals networking event with AustCham Hong Kong. A fantastic evening of networking, collaboration, and new connections. Thanks to our very own Nikita Leung and Brian Choo and Jordan Huber from AustCham for bringing this event to life, yet another success in our series of Young Professionals mixers.
The European Union Office to Hong Kong and Macao together with The European Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong organized ‘Greenway 2025: Accelerating Changes,’ the fourth edition of the flagship sustainability event of the European Union in Hong Kong. This year’s edition focused on advancing green mobility, sustainable finance, circular economy and building green cities.
The event was jointly opened by The Hon. John KC Lee, Chief Executive of the HKSAR, and Ambassador Harvey Rouse, Head of the European Union Office to Hong Kong and Macao.
During the conference, Secretary for Environment and Ecology of Tse Chin-wan and Acting Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Joseph Chan also delivered keynote presentations.
In three thematic panel discussions, on green mobility, sustainable finance and circular economy and building green cities, speakers formulated recommendations on how to accelerate Hong Kong’s transition towards a greener economy.
Click here for the recommendations: https://lnkd.in/gM7sV5kV
We also took part in an exclusive event hosted by our sponsor Airwallex where they debuted the latest study report, "Distinctive Paths to Unlocking Global Commerce: Navigating Cross-Border Trade for Hong Kong SMEs".
The study shows 75% of Hong Kong cross-border SMEs plan to increase overseas activities, yet many struggle with foreign transactions, limited resources, and knowledge gaps.
Get insights into the challenges and strategies of overseas expansion and payment by downloading the study report here.
And because we’re nice …
There’s also a $100k free FX Offer for Irish Chamber Members
Finally, in case you missed our Mindset for Personal and Professional Growth webinar with John Keane from AscensionU, don't fret!
We have a recording for you to go back to, use the link below to access digital gold: https://lnkd.in/gwStbmAG
Designed for ambitious young professionals, this session explored key strategies to foster growth, resilience, and opportunity.
John is originally from Ballinasloe, Co. Galway, and has spent the past eight years in Hong Kong, making a meaningful impact in the coaching and development space.
And as promised, here is our all new and madly exciting section where we feature Irish and Irish-related businesses both here and at home.
If you’re wondering what makes Irish whiskey special, and who doesn’t, it’s not just the stories or the scenery (although they probably help). Irish whiskey is protected by law and must be made in Ireland, but it’s the triple distillation and creative use of grains that give it its smooth, distinctive character.
Here are two Irish distilleries taking tradition and craft to new heights.
Ahascragh Distillery:
Legends, Luck, and Lemongrass: The Irish Whiskey Revival You Didn’t See Coming
Ahascragh Distillery isn’t just another new face on the Irish whiskey scene, it’s a revival of legend, family, and a few unexpected flavors.
The McAllisters, who spent years living and working in Hong Kong and China, have come home to County Galway to breathe new life into their ancestors’ whiskey-making legacy.
Their flagship whiskey, Clan Colla, is named after a family line said to descend from ancient Irish kings. In Ireland, family legends and whiskey seem to go hand in hand.
But here’s where things take a surprising turn: alongside their award-winning whiskey, the McAllisters make a gin inspired by their adventures in Asia. Xin Gin is anything but traditional—think lemongrass, dill, cinnamon, and persimmon, all blended together in a way that somehow works perfectly. It’s a bottle that tells its own story, bridging continents and cultures in every sip.
At the distillery, which is set in a lovingly restored 18th-century mill, tradition is alive and well in more ways than one. The whiskey is triple-distilled in copper pots, each one named after a woman in the family, a heartfelt tradition believed to bring luck and prosperity.
They currently hold 5% of the Irish whiskey market and are available at Delaney’s Pub, while their Xin Gin is available from HK Liquor Store: https://hkliquorstore.com/
We look forward to the launch of their new Red Wine Blend coming out in November of 2025 and available to try and buy at this year’s Hong Kong trade fair.
Glendalough Distillery:
Wicklow Roots, Wild Spirits: Where Ancient Ireland Meets Unexpected Flavour
Glendalough Distillery brings a fresh twist to Irish spirits, blending ancient tradition with a love for Wicklow’s wild beauty.
Tucked in the Wicklow Mountains, often called the “Garden of Ireland,” the distillery is inspired by the story of St. Kevin, who famously left everything for a life in nature. That same spirit of adventure and reverence for the land shapes every bottle they make.
Their whiskeys are anything but ordinary. Glendalough is known for experimenting with rare cask finishes, from Japanese Mizunara to Irish oak hand-harvested in Wicklow’s own forests giving their whiskey unexpected layers of flavor you won’t find anywhere else.
Their latest creation, Glendalough Peated Pot Still, combines two classic Irish styles, pot still and peated whiskey, into something bold, new, and unmistakably Irish.
It’s not just about whiskey, either. Their Wild Botanical Gin is distilled with fresh, foraged botanicals from the Wicklow hills, capturing the wild, untamed taste of the region in every sip.
Glendalough’s mission is simple: to craft spirits that connect you to nature and showcase the rugged beauty of Wicklow, all while pushing the boundaries of Irish tradition. Their range is available at HK Liquor Store: https://hkliquorstore.com/
And one more Irish firm for this opening edition.
Now this next firm may be relevant to our introductions above, or not, we don’t judge, so we’d like to welcome a new member, Jonathan Ross, whom many of you may have already met at various events. He's the friendly face behind BuzzClear (formerly known as Hanggone), a scientifically formulated remedy for those pesky aftereffects of a night out.
BuzzClear is packed with enzymes naturally produced by the liver, which Jonathan says help break down alcohol and its troublesome by-product, acetaldehyde, to ease hangover symptoms.
If you're curious to try BuzzClear, just drop Jonathan an email at jonathan@alcolear.com. The first 20 people will receive three free packs!
Also, don't forget to visit buzzclear.hk, where friends of the Irish Chamber can use the discount code ICC2025 for 20% off when ordering. Slainte!
Slán go fóill
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