On September 19, President Mark Tong, Past Presidents WT Wong, Grace Yen and Dora Liu, and Immediate Past President Lily Chan met with District Governor Wilson Cheng and his District team at RIC in Causeway Bay. Assistant Governor David Thomas, his deputy Sunny Chen and District Secretary Peggy Sin were also in attendance. At the meeting, our Club’s Directors outlined our goals and plans for this Rotary year, and shared with our District Governor our various projects under planning, including projects with Yuk Chi, with our sister clubs, in East Timor etc. District Governor Wilson and Assistant Governor Thomas also gave us some excellent feedback and advice, for which we are grateful.
On September 14, Club members went to watch “童sing童戲 MUSIC Stand by Me”, a musical staged and performed by Music Children Foundation, our Club’s new service partner. Music Children Foundation is a non-profit organization aimed at providing free music education to underprivileged children in Hong Kong. Club members attended two shows: President Mark Tong, Immediate Past President Lily Chan, Rotarian SS Kong and Rtnne. Liliana attended the matinee show, while Past Presidents Grace Yen and Angela Hui, with Jerry and Maurice, attended the Gala Concert in the evening.
The Club meeting on September 12 had a full agenda: we have invited Ms. Vicky Woo to tell us more about Social Enterprise Doctor, a Rotary sponsored activity that was started by some Clubs in our District in the previous Rotary year. Meanwhile, Area 3’s governing team sent their special envoy, Deputy Assistant Governor (and our Club’s IPP) Lily Chan to give an update of our District. Finally, Outgoing President Sally Oh from our Rotaract Club of HKU Lap Chee College International came to give her annual report. First to the rostrum was DAG Lily, who put down her IPP hat, put on her District hat, and gave us updates of our District, including the creation of Areas 11 and 12 to facilitate better and more attentive District governance. One side effect from the creation of new Areas that affects us greatly is that both our baby Club, Rotary E Club of Lantau, and our grandbaby Club, Rotary Club of Neoteric Hong Kong, are moved from our Area to one of the newly created Areas. We are sad to see them go, but we are sure that our connection and fellowship shall continue unabated. Next up was Rotaractor Sally, who…
On August 22, our Interactors from Interact Clubs of King’s College and St. Clare’s Girls’ School attended our regular Club meeting at Regal Hongkong Hotel. Outgoing Presidents Tom and Yuki, respectively from King’s College and St. Clare’s Girls’ School, shared with Rotarians their activities in the year just passed. They brought with them their Incoming Presidents, Marx and Charlotte, who will work mainly with Youth Service Director Past President Webster Ng in RY2019-2020.
On August 15, members and families gathered at Chiu Chow C.O.C. Members’ Club (潮州商會會所) to celebrate boys and girls with birthdays between July and September. Our Club’s Board Meeting was held one hour before the beginning of the dinner. The dinner, capped with gigantic birthday buns for all, was arranged by Past President Webster Ng and Rotarian Sam Poon. Rotarian Sam and President Mark Tong also brought whisky and wines for all to share. Many thanks to Past President Webster, Rotarian Sam and attending Rotarians and family for making this fellowship a successful and joy-filled one!
Richard Wesley, Museum Director of the Hong Kong Maritime Museum, explained the history, vision and mission of the Museum. The Museum is a unique cultural entity in Hong Kong dedicated to preserving, collecting and displaying objects that tell the story about trade and maritime in Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta. Richard shared with members photos of Hong Kong’s maritime past as well as precious art work related to the sea. Richard remarked that our Club, being the first Rotary Club in Hong Kong he visited as a speaker, was uniquely suited to be his “maiden voyage” since both his profession and passion are related and connected to the Hong Kong harbor.
Our Club’s RY2019-20 Installation was held on July 25 at Regal Hongkong Hotel. The presidential sash and gavel were passed on from Imediate Past President Lily Chan to President Mark Tong, while new pins were received by our incoming directors. The Club Installation was well-attended: 60+ Rotarians, family members and friends were present to witness this most important Club event. Many District leaders also attended, including: District Governor Wilson Cheng, Immediate Past District Governor YC Ho, District Governor Elect Eric Chak, and Assistant Governor David Thomas.
On July 18, our Club Board convened for the first time in this new Rotary Year, at Fung Shing Restaurant in Causeway Bay. Lots of Club matters were discussed and resolved, but just as importantly, all the dishes ordered were mopped up by our hungry Board members. The evening was smoothed by wines and whisky from all over the world: a bottle of Spanish rioja from President Mark Tong, a bottle of Australian cabernet from Rotarian Kelvin Yeung, and a Scotch from Rotarian Sam Poon. Rotary does “Connect the World”.
On July 13, 10 Harbour Rotarians attended District Installation at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. It was a long evening with a ton of speeches, but also a ton of fun.
President Mark Tong, together with Past Presidents Dora Liu, Webster Ng and Patric Lee of Rotary E Club of Lantau, and Joey, visited our Sister Club in Kuala Lumpur over the weekend of July 12-14. President Mark could not stay for one more than one night as he had to return to Hong Kong on July 13 to attend District Installation, but the rest stayed behind to attend our Sister Club’s 53rd Installation. Naturally, they were feasted with fabulous food and warm hospitality from our dearest Rotarians from Pudu. President Mark did manage to join Pudu’s fellowship evening, during which the Sister Club Agreement between the two Clubs was renewed. Harbour Rotarians also managed to watch a presentation by Past District Governor Paul Lee, who is readying a Global Grant application to build water access for indigenous people in the rural forests of Malaysia.