President Sam started the meeting with a welcome and proceeded to the Rotary song. In anticipation of Past President Grace’s birthday on the 20th, Past President WT led the birthday song. Charter President Patrick brought two visitors to the meeting, Professor Heiwai Tang, an economics professor at HKU Business School, and his wife, Joyce. A report was given on the past two weeks of activities and upcoming Club/District events. Past President Grace then introduced the meeting’s speaker, our newest member Rotarian David, the founder of Health Integrated Medical Group. Rtn David is very familiar with Rotary as a former Interactor (IAC St. Joseph’s) and Rotaractor (RAC Victoria). Rotarian David received his medical degree from Chinese University of Hong Kong and a bachelor’s degree in Chinese medicine in Guangzhou. As a practitioner of both Western and Chinese medicine, his topic was about these different but complementary systems. Past President Dora gave our Club’s vote of thanks at the end of Rotarian David’s talk. Rotarian David uses the scientific approach of his family medicine specialty together with Chinese medicine principles to provide patient-centered care. While there are strengths and weaknesses to Western and Chinese medicine, they can be used together in a…
President Sam, Charter President Patrick, Past President Webster (Youth), Past President Kay, Past Pressident WT and President Elect Eliza attended the Installation Ceremony this year. President Rain Lau, School Principal Mr. Tang, Ms. Kwok, Ms. Leung, and the Club Committees welcomed our Rotarians. Principal Mr. Tang expressed his optimism that Interactors will be able to serve the community in the “new normal” and emphasized that Rotary/Interact is a valuable institution for young students. President Sam spoke about the Rotary International Theme, “Serve to Change Lives.” Charter President Patrick encouraged Interactors to adopt Rotarian values and principles in all things they do, in school and outside school. Past President Webster talked about the concept, “一齊服務 ,一齊健康”, loosely translated to be “serve together, and be healthy together”. Next, President Rain reported on activities completed in 2020-21 and his plan for the “new normal” in 2021-22. Finally, our Rotarians presented Interact pins to all the officers and committees of the Interact Club of King’s College.
We are happy to support the premiere of the Hong Kong Hymnos Festival, conceived and expertly run by Past President Angela and Maurice. Great effort was put into creating the two concerts and assembling the many performing artists and guests. On November 10, President Sam, Past President Grace and Jerry, and Past President WT attended the opening concert. On November 15, at the closing concert, Immediate Past President Mark performed as part of the Vox Antiqua choir. Holy Cafe’s Mrs Sung and her daughter performed as part of the festival choir.
On November 12, President Sam, and Past Presidents Grace, Eddie and WT visited Ms. Lai and Ms. Lo at the Yuk Chi Resource Centre. The main purpose was to observe the District Grant project in action. Ms. Lai explained to the group the high demand of obtaining a comprehensive developmental assessment of age-6 or under children with suspected developmental problems. Underprivileged families may need to wait 15 to 18 months at the Department of Health. Our Club’s District Grant project will help 45 such families this year. Our Rotarians observed an assessment of a 4-year old girl for 20 minutes. Through playing with toys and engaging her in specific tasks the clinical psychologist was able to test the girl’s motor functions and assess her developmental progress. After the visit, President Sam led the group to a Singaporean restaurant (A Taste Above Shiok) in Causeway Bay for afternoon tea.
On July 10, District Installation was held. The guest of honor and speaker was the Honorable Bernard Chan, GBM, GBS, JP. During the Club Presidents’ Installation Ceremony, outgoing President Mark passed the president’s sash to incoming President Sam. In attendance from our Club were Charter President Patrick, Past District Governor Belinda, Past Presidents WT and Grace, and President Elect Eliza. Later in the day, during Past District Governor Belinda’s presentation of Rotary Foundation Major Gifts and Pledges, President Sam announced the largest pledge of the day, the US$250,000 Rotary Club of Hong Kong Harbour 35th Anniversary Endowment Fund. The investment earnings from the Endowment Fund is to be designated perpetually and solely for scholarships in Rotary District 3450. More details will be shared with all Club members in the 1st Club Assembly on the evening of September 23.
District Conference was held in June, 19-20. A total of 10 from the Harbour family attended: President Mark, Charter President Patrick, Past District Governor Belinda, Past Presidents Grace, Angela, WT and Dora, President Elect Sam and Rotarian Eliza registered for two days of programs, while Wendy attended as special guest of the Organizing Committee during Foundation recognition ceremony and lunch. The OC team and venue operator took meticulous care to ensure everyone’s safety and good health. Past President Dora worked behind the scenes to ensure smooth operation as part of the OC team. Past President Angela presided over the People of Action Photo Competition prize presentation ceremony, during which Past District Governor Belinda, in her role as District Public Image Committee Chair, presented top awards. Past President WT was a panelist in a breakout session on peace. Charter President Patrick and Wendy, as well as Past District Governor Belinda, were recognized for their contribution to The Rotary Foundation during Foundation recognition ceremony. President Mark attended the business session to vote on behalf of our Club. Possibly most significantly, however, was that our own Past District Governor Belinda was awarded Rotary International Service Above Self Award, an RI award recognizing individual…
On June 10, our Club met at Regal Hong Kong Hotel. To ensure proper social distancing, Regal has given us a large room, with 4-person tables separated by ample spaces. Mr. Kenneth She joined as a guest of Past President WT. President Mark began by recounting memorable episodes from Interota 2020, which closed the day before. President Mark also asked those members who have signed up for Rotary Virtual Convention to check their emails to gain access links. President Elect Sam gave more details about Club Assembly, Club Installation and District Installation. Charter President Patrick reported that he attended Rotary Club of Pudu’s Interact Leadership Training Seminar, held via Zoom. He had fond memories of his appointment as Youth Service Director of Rotary Club of Pudu, in the late 70s. He also reminded us that fellowship and international understanding are two important pillars of the Interact experience, and that our Club should open more opportunities for our youth to experience both. Finally, Past President Samuel counted members’ efforts during our service day at Holy Cafe in the previous weekend, the 14th official outing of this Rotary Year, and commented that Coco was mad that she couldn’t join us for the…
On May 13, our Club met at Regal Hong Kong Hotel. To ensure proper social distancing, Regal has given us a large room, with 4-person tables separated by ample spaces. Special welcome was given to all five of our Charter Members. Before the speaker program, members took turns to give reports of Club and District activities. Past President MK, as Sergeant-at-Arms, thanked President Mark and President Elect Sam for their contribution to the red box in the Poster Hunting Challenge, and thanked many others for their generous contributions to red box on the day of the meeting. Past President WT gave highlights of a tree planting outing to Fung Yuen Butterfly Reserve. Past President Grace chimed in and said the work this year was especially challenging as some of us had to carry pots of plants up a steep slope and had to clear wild bushes before saplings can be planted. Charter President Patrick gave details of District Training Assembly, and highlighted key points by the event’s guest of honor, Mr. Kenneth Fok, JP. President Mark ended the reporting section by encouraging members to sign up for the upcoming service outing at Holy Cafe, when over 250 elderly were expected…
Five members (Past Presidents Angela, Grace, WT and Dora, and Rotarian Eliza) plus one spouse (Maurice) attended the District Preserve Planet Earth Committee’s Tree Planting at Fung Yuen, Tai Po on May 1. Motivated by Past President Angela’s call: “有錢出錢，有力出力”, our Club members donated 2,200 HKD in total with some of the donation going to clubs in Mongolia for planting trees there. The team carried the plants uphill before digging holes for planting the trees to attract butterflies to come to this “Site of Special Scientific Interest” conservation area, where over 200 species of butterflies (90% of the total 245 species in HK) live here. Among them, over 140 species are uncommon/rare/very rare in HK. The happy service+fellowship event was followed by a “heavy meal” filled with laughter in Tai Po.
On April 20, President Mark, Charter President Patrick and Wendy, Past District Governor Belinda, and Past Presidents Grace, WT and Angela attended Intercity Meeting at Regal Kowloon Hotel. Past District Governor Belinda did not only attend the meeting; as Assistant Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator, she was the evening’s Guest of Honor and gave the keynote speech. Charter President Patrick and Wendy were guests of District Governor Eric Chak, and were recognized for their contribution (top donors in the District) to The Rotary Foundation. Past District Governor Belinda was also recognized as a Level 4 Major Donor. The meeting was separated into rooms of attendees to conform with government gathering restrictions. Each room was then linked to the main stage via live Zoom.