Last week's Proceedings -
12th July, 2006
Last week's Proceedings -
12th July, 2006
This was the 2nd regular lunch meeting of our club of this Rotary year and our President Paul proceeded smoothly according to the agenda.
President Spencer Lo, IPP Cecilia Yam and PP James Yick of the Rotary Club of Hong Kong City North visited our club for the first time and were greeted with a warm welcome by President Paul. Joining our meeting at a later time were International Service Director, Rose T. Gonzales of R/C of Diliman Central, and Rtn. Normie Antillo of R/C of Manila, both from the Philippines.
While on his feet, President Spencer Lo was given a time slot to promote the "Flag Sale" to raise money for his club's community service projects. He stressed that poverty and inadequate care is always a hardship for aged population and he would like to seek the support of our members to the "Flag Day" event to be held on the 29th July 2006. Due to time constraint, he dished out response form for each member to complete and return with any donation by a prepaid postage pamphlet. PDG Peter Hall initiated his small donation of $200 as a start.
Acting Sergeant-at-Arms PDG Peter reported his harvest of the day for the red box of HK$800.00.
The high light of the meeting was a talk by Mr. Eric Chan, Assistant Director of Environmental Protection Department (Conservation Division) of the Government of HKSAR. Hon, Secretary Andy Wong officially introduced Mr. Chan in detail asking the audience to give Mr. Chan a warm welcome.
With the aid of the video, Mr. Eric Chan presented his talk on environment surrounding Hong Kong in a most vivid and interesting manner. Illustration by pictures of the wetlands, from butterflies to fish and animals of all kinds. It would be more interesting for the readers if the colour pictures could be reproduced in this bulletin.
Mr. Chan classified his environmental subject in the following sequence, such as Introduction, Policy statement, Management Agreement, Public Private Partnership, International Cooperation and Public Education and Publicity.
1. Introduction - Baseline information helps project proponents to assess possible impact and take necessary precautionary actions at early planning stage. It also helps assess the ecological importance of species and sites for formulation of conservation action plan.
2. Policy Statement - Our nature conservation policy is to regulate. protect and manage natural resources that are important for the conservation of biological diversity of Hong Kong in a sustainable manner, taking into account social and economic considerations for the benefit and enjoyment of the present and future generations of the community.
3. Management Agreement - In end 2005, the Environmental and Conservation Fund Committee allocated $4.6 millions to NGOs for implementation of three MA projects :
a. The project in Fung Yuen enhances the diversity of butterflies by Conserving their habitat,
b. A project in Long Valley forms partnership with farmers to enhance the habitat and species diversity of bird,
c. Another project in Long Valley aims at formulating an agricultural and Conservation management strategy.
4. Public Private Partnership - Development of an agreed scale will be allowed at the ecologically less sensitive portion of any of the priority sites identified, provided the "I understand to conserve and manage the ecologically more sensitive portion of the site on a long term basis. An inter-departmental taskforce (chaired by FPD comprising representatives from ecological, environmental planning and works authorities) is now examining the applications.
5. International Co-operation - Convention on International Trade in Endangered species of wild fauna and flora (CITES)
6. Public Education and Publicity - Documents basic information including taxonomy, conservation status, local distribution of more the 1000 animal species.
At the conclusion of his talk, a "question and answer" period was being offered by the speaker. As time was running short, only two questions were entertained. Hon. Treasurer Laurence thanked the speaker in the usual Rotary manner.
At 2.00 p.m. President Paul closed the meeting by toasting to RI coupled with the names of Rotary Clubs of HK City North, and Dilinan Central, Philippines.
Rotary InformationLiteracy Month
In the month of July, Rotary International has designated it as Literacy Month and requested all clubs worldwide to observe it by adopting educational projects.
Our club has committed to the educational programme for the poor girl students in the rural and mountain areas of Hebei, China since last year, enabling them to complete their study. This project will run for several years until they have completed their primary education.
While writing this article, a reminiscence of our maiden educational project is added herewith for the information of our newer members.
In response to the call of RI, our club had the vision on literacy since we were admitted to RI in 1954 and focused on building a special school for the hearing-impaired students in Hong Kong, tracing back to some 50 years ago.
With a handful of only 25 founding members, we were bold enough to start building a special school named
Victoria Park School for the Deaf
in Hing Fat Street, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong on a piece of land granted by the Hong Kong Government. The foundation stone was laid by the Hon. Ngan Shing Kwan in 1959. It took us six years to complete the whole building with hearing aid equipments, air-conditioned class rooms and play ground, etc. at a total cost of HK$280,000.00. The school was opened in 1960 by H.E. the officer administering the Government, Mr. C.B. Burgess, CMG, OBE. Its principal was Li Luk Wa and succeeded by Ms Katherine Ngai as principal in 1967. As time went by, Ms Amy Tso was appointed school principal in 1982
Our club took good care of the school premises by up-keeping the various requirements and also donated a school van to ferry students from far distance. In 1986, a new 14-seater van was to replace the old one. We also sponsored Christmas parties for the students each year. Three members of our club were admitted to the school council.
Due to rapid decrease of hearing-impaired students, the school will close down at the end of August 2006. The fate of the school premises is uncertain. There is a Chinese saying that "All banquets must come to an end" and therefore, it is the end of this wonderful project. It is gratifying to note that we have been successful as fewer hearing-impaired students exist in Hong Kong.
Members of our club headed by President Paul Chan made a last visit to the school immediately after our regular meeting on 12th July 2006. We were well received by the last principal, Ms Lun Bik-yee who conducted a guided tour of the school for our group consisting of President Paul Chan, PDG Peter Hall, PP John Kwok, PE Laurence Chan, IPP Eddy Wong, PP David Li and PP Rudy Law. Many pictures were taken for our everlasting memory.
With a broken heart, we say Good-bye and farewell to Victoria Park School of the Deaf. And so the wonderful banquet ended.
Memoriam
PP Rudy Law's Father-in-Law, Mr. Ho Lang Cham passed away on the 10th July 2006 due to long illness. Vigil service willl be held on 29th July 2006 from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Hong Kong Funeral Parlour, North Point, Hong Kong.
Electronic Make-up Questions
You can submit an electronic makeup for this missed meeting by answering the following 6 questions:
1. We have five visiting Rotarians today. Name them and from where?
Answer:
2. One of the visiting Rotarians made an appeal for what cause?
Answer:
3. Who was our guest speaker and what did he talk about?
Answer:
4. Who was our Sergeant -at-Arms and what was his collection?
Answer:
5.What happened after our normal meeting last Wednesday?
Answer:
6. How many members attended this function?
Answer:
Instruction:
Please copy these 6 questions click the following URL John Kwok and paste it to the email and answer these questions and then click send
Joke
Subject: Priest,Preacher and the Rabbi
A priest, a Pentecostal preacher and a Rabbi all served as chaplains to the students of Northern Michigan University in Marquette.
They would get together two or three times a week for coffee and to talk shop.
One day, someone made the comment that preaching to people isn't really all that hard. A real challenge would be to preach to a bear.
One thing led to another and they decided to do an experiment. They would all go out into the woods, find a bear, preach to it, and attempt to convert it.
Seven days later, they're all together to discuss the experience...
Father Flannery, who has his arm in a sling, is on crutches, and has various bandages, goes first. "Well," he says, "I went into the woods to find me a bear. And when I found him I began to read to him from the Catechism. Well, that bear wanted nothing to do with me and began to slap me around. So I quickly grabbed my holy water, sprinkled him and, Holy Mary, Mother of God, he became as gentle a lamb. The bishop is coming out next week to give him first communion and confirmation."
Reverend Billy Bob spoke next. He was in a wheelchair, with an arm and both legs in casts, and an IV drip. In his best fire and brimstone oratory he claimed, " WELL brothers, you KNOW that we don't sprinkle! I went out and I FOUND me a bear. And then I began to read to my bear from God's HOLY WORD! But that bear wanted nothing to do with me. So I took HOLD of him and we began to wrestle! We wrestled down one hill, UP another and DOWN another until we came to a creek. So I quick DUNKED him and BAPTIZED his hairy soul. And just like you said, he became as gentle as a lamb. We spent the rest of the day praising Jesus."
They both looked down at the rabbi, who was lying in a hospital bed. He was in a body cast and traction with IV's and monitors running in and out of him. He was in bad shape. The rabbi looks up and says, "Looking back on it, circumcision may not have been the best way to start things out with my bear".
Photographs of our meeting
on
12th July, 2006
Rtn Eric Chin.
on 12th July, 2006The final visit to Victoria Park School for the Deaf
