On February 27, our Club met despite the current Coronavirus outbreak. Members wore masks throughout the meeting except when eating or speaking. Some members and spouses arrived early to mingle and share stories about how to pass time in the past few weeks when most social events, including Rotary events, have been postponed or cancelled. Some members continued to share stories about how they managed to donate/distribute extra supplies to those in need around them. Master Au came to our Club as speaker to talk about the Year of the Rat in 2020. He gave his insights on various current events, including the current Coronavirus outbreak. The topic could not be more appropriate considering that it is the number one thing on everybody’s mind during this difficult outbreak period. Master Au also gave some insights on the stock market, Hong Kong real estate, China trade, and general business climate. Finally, he also made a swift prediction about the 2020 US Presidential election, the outcome of which most certainly has generational consequences not just in the US but around the world.
The Coronavirus outbreak has affected everyone in Hong Kong, but especially street cleaners and sanitation workers who are usually paid petty wages and can ill afford to use a fresh mask every few days, never mind a fresh one each day. Responding in part to society’s cry for help as well as to our District Governor’s “Giving Masks, Rotary’s Tasks” campaign, Club members and their spouses donated and distributed boxes of masks and hand sanitizers to street cleaners and sanitation workers in Causeway Bay. Donning masks and gloves, Club members and spouses packaged masks inside a sealable bag together with simple instructions on how to properly wear a mask, and then sealed the bag to minimize chances of contamination during transportation and distribution. The bags were then brought to various refuse collection points and wet markets near our meeting venue in Causeway Bay and promptly given away. Service targets were street cleaners and sanitation workers, most of whom earn low wages and can ill afford fresh masks even though they work in conditions very likely to be laden with germs, bacteria and viruses. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers were also passed to those in need. The service project benefited approximately 40 street…
On February 13, our Club met for the first time after Chinese new year break. President Mark began the meeting by offering a very special welcome to all members and Maurice. President Mark then detailed the new arrangements of various Club and District events that are postponed or cancelled as a result of the Coronavirus outbreak. Members then shared their stories of how they struggled but eventually managed to secure their own health supplies. Some members also shared their stories of how they managed to source thousands of masks from all over the world and personally donate to charities. Maurice made an impassioned and heartfelt plea to help refugees in Hong Kong who were just as neglected and in need of help as any group in Hong Kong. Past President Angela and Rotarian Jason shared stories about how Rotaractors came together as private citizens to help out those in need. Immediate Past President Lily also shared how she managed to buy boxes of masks while visiting Turkey during her annual vacation, and promptly donated a few boxes, in our Club’s name no less, to our District’s “Giving Masks, Rotary’s Tasks” campaign. It was also during the meeting that the idea…
Over the Chinese new year, Past President Gary Lim of Rotary Club of Pudu and his family visited Hong Kong from Malaysia. Our Club members showed them our usual hospitality. Thanks to liaison by Past President Dora, our Director of International Service, we went for a long hotpot dinner one evening, and a dim sum lunch in another afternoon.
On January 23, Mr. Roy Cheng, an expert in arbitration and mediation, came to our Club to share with us his experience as a mediator. He summarized how a mediator works, and how crucial it is, in this day and age of political polarization. He believed that the most important elements in mediation are: listening, and empathy. He detailed, in confidence, some of the behind-the-scenes mediation efforts to break the impasse at Hong Kong Polytechnic University in November. To thank Mr. Cheng for his sharing, Past President Peter presented a fan with calligraphy that reads “和為貴 / Treasure harmony” – a message that is much needed in today’s society.
On January 15, more than a dozen Hong Kong Harbour Rotarians and spouses were present at the naming ceremony of Patrick SC Poon Amity College at Hang Seng University of Hong Kong. Patrick SC Poon, of course, is our Club’s Charter President and well-known philanthropist. During Charter President Patrick’s speech, he mentioned that Rotary philosophy of service above self is one of his chief guiding principles when he does philanthropic deeds. Plenty other District dignitaries were present, including District Governor Wilson Cheng, Past Governors Moses Cheng (Chairman of the University’s Council), Anthony Hung, Jones Wong, Peter Wan, Ada Cheng, YC Ho, and District Governor Nominee Keith Chow.
On January 14, Service Projects Director Kelvin, together with Past Presidents Eddie Leung, Grace and Angela delivered Chinese new year pudding packages to the volunteers and staff of Yuk Chi Resource Centre. They first assembled in Causeway Bay to pick up the packages from Regal catering, and then delivered 60+ pudding packages to Yuk Chi in Tuen Mun as part of our Club’s annual tradition to show our heartfelt appreciation of the hard work of the staff and volunteers of the Centre. Our Club’s delegation was led by Service Projects Director Kelvin, who reported that the delivery was smooth and that the recipients were all very happy to greet and meet with us. The visiting Rotarians also took time to tour the Centre and learned about the Centre’s latest developments.
District Blind Bowling Tournament was held at South China Athletic Association on January 12. 12 Interactors from St. Clare’s and 5 Interactors from King’s joined President Mark, Past President Webster and Webster’s two sons to participate in this meaningful event, where Interactors learned to appreciate what we usually take for granted (eye-sight) and the perseverance and determination of those who have lost theirs. President Mark showed a real talent for throwing gutter balls and consistently missing standing pins; his scoring contribution for the day: 0. The event was of course not possible without the full support of Hong Kong’s most well-known bowler, our very own Honorary Member Vivien Lau, who was the guest of honor of the event.
On January 9, our Club invited Mr. KF Lee, a memorization expert and “mental athlete” who shared with us his upbringing and his trained talent for memorizing any patterns thrown at him. He is the Hong Kong record holder of many memorization challenges, and is skilled at memorizing random numbers, names, human faces, cards, images etc. He also believes that memorization is a skill that can be learned, and proved as such by conducting an experiment whereby Harbour members were taught a method of memorization and then were asked to memorize a sequence of random objects. Mr. Lee proved that Harbour members’ memory is not as bad as we may think! Mr. Lee also shared with us how persistence overcomes failures and difficult tasks, as exemplified by his business successes after repeated failures as well as various bike tours.
On January 7, President Mark attended District Vocational Service Seminar, hosted by our good friends at Rotary Club of Peninsula. The star speaker was Mr. Wong Kam Po (黃金寶), world champion cyclist and arguably one of Hong Kong’s greatest sporting icons at the turn of the century. Mr. Wong shared his upbringing, from a Shatin boy in a middle-class family to a cycling world champion, and all the frustration, tears, and hard work in between. Now fully retired from competitive cycling, Mr. Wong is devoting his energy and time promoting cycling and sports in general, and encouraging youngsters to chase their dreams by using his life’s history as guidepost. He is also spending a lot of time promoting Sports Legacy Scheme, a government-sanctioned scheme to help both student athletes and elite athletes who either are planning to retire or have retired to continue their involvement in sports by turning them into sports teachers so that they can continue teaching and spreading the positive values of sports and the spirit of olympism.