Last week's Proceedings -

President Laurence started the meeting at 1:15 pm with 21 members and guests attending. We had a very special meeting today with all members and guests standing to start with the Rotary Vitarobic dance for the celebration of the 100th day count down for the 2008 Beijing Olympic. While the District had formally hosted the Vitarobic dance in the Shatin Sports ground in the morning, our Club is supporting this event during our regular lunch meeting. AG Eddy had rushed back from Shatin to join and lead the dance. The video provided by the District was played on screen and all participants were heated up and we all had a good exercise.

SAA Heman reported the Red box of the day was HK$1,100.

Rtn. Jackal introduced the guests of today being PP Joop Litmaath of the Rotary Club of Hong Kong, Dr. K.M Tse our speaker of last week, Ms Carmen Chow friend of Rtn. Gilbert and Mr. Mark Chong from the Citibank in Hong Kong. They were warmly welcomed by our members with big rounds of applauses.

Rtn. Heman introduced our speaker, Mr. Patrick Kwong, Director of the City University of Hong Kong Press, to us and the topic being “Hong Kong Reading Month - it's impact to our future generation”.

Mr. Patrick Kwong has around 30 years of experience in the local publishing scene. He first served as Editor for Mathematics and Science Subjects in Oxford University Press in 1978, and became Assistant to Director / Business Manager in The Chinese University Press in the following year. In 1995, he joined the City University of Hong Kong as Head of the Publications and Media Production Unit, overseeing all activities related to design, printing and publishing of printed items as well as production of audio-visual items in the University. In 1996, he helped to establish the City University of Hong Kong Press which is the publishing arm of the University and became its founding director.

Patrick had served the local publishing sector in many capacities, including director of the HK Federation of Publishing (1994-1995, 2000-2006), Executive Committee member of the Hong Kong Publishing Professionals' Association (1989-2006), members of various Industry Training Boards related to publishing and printing established by the Vocational Training Council (1989-1991, 1995-1997, 1998-2006). He is currently a member of the Printing and Publishing Industry Training Advisory Committee established under the Education Bureau of the HKSAR Government.

The “Hong Kong Reading Month” was born amid the anxiety brought about by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) epidemic in 2003. In May, schools were closed temporarily and students were advised to stay at home. To help students and indeed the community to spend their time meaningfully and to restore their spiritual well-being at the time, the Hong Kong Publishing Federation (HKPF) immediately took the liberty to rally the support of publishers, bookshops, the education sector and other organizations to launch the Reading Month which ran in May. The theme was “Reading for Health.” To the surprise of the organizers, the project was a resounding success, reported widely by the media, and won accolades at home and abroad. Publishers in the Mainland and Taiwan, regions also affected by SARS, were not so responsive to the needs of their communities.

Following the success of the first Reading Month in 2003, HKPF organized the project again in April 2004 to tie in with the “World Book and Copyright Day” promulgated by UNESCO. Co-organizers included: City University of Hong Kong, the Federation of Youth Groups, the Leisure and Cultural Service Department of the HKSAR government, RTHK and the Hong Kong EdCity. The theme was “Reading for All.” HKPF further undertook to make it an annual event.

The major highlights of the annual campaign since its inception include:
a. launching ceremony,
b. 50 books recommended for reading (except 2007),
c. seminars at bookshops,
d. publicities at bookshops and schools,
e. publicities on websites of Hong Kong EdCity and other organizations, and
f. advertisements in local newspapers.

It has always been the objectives of the campaign to promote reading and instill awareness to the local community especially youths and teenagers of the importance and benefits of reading. In 2006, special efforts were directed toward corporate with a view to enhancing the humanistic qualities of the workforce of the business sector in order to qualify itself to compete in the global knowledge-based economy. For 2007, a reading marathon was organized for primary and secondary students in which 30 books were recommended. Students were invited to read titles chosen from the list within a period of 5 months and submit book reports to the organizers through their schools.

The Reading Month campaigns held consecutively and annually since 2003 confirm to HKPF the great urgency of promoting reading for all sectors and ages. In this regard, HKPF would very much like to expand the scope of activities for the project in the years to come. The major difficulties are found in the areas of funding and manpower support. The first five campaigns were made possible through the unselfish efforts of many from the publishing, cultural and other sectors who contribute their time and effort without charge. Consequently, many activities were organized on an ad hoc basis and could not attain the level of influences and impact intended. The organizers are working hard in seeking sponsorships and support so that a permanent secretariat can be established.

Patrick concluded his speech on a brighter note by pointing out that in the last five years: (a) more books were bought annually, (b) number of visitors to the public libraries rose sharply and (c) more activities related to books and readings were organized by shopping malls as a means to attract traffic.

Dir. Jason was asked to thank our speaker. Jason had been involved in the “Reading month” through his son, and hence was touched very much by the speech. We gave a big round of applause to our speaker.

The meeting was adjourned at 2:04pm with a toast to RI coupled with Rotary Clubs of Hong Kong and Hong Kong Island East.

The question of how to define an approved charitable donation is frequently raised. The following details from the Inland Revenue Department will give you the correct answer:

“Subject to certain limitations, an allowance is granted, for tax purposes under the Inland Revenue Ordinance, for donations of money to charitable institutions or trusts of a public character. As your organization has been recognized as such, donations of money made to your organization will be allowable.

It has, however, come to my knowledge that the donations shown in some receipts issued by some recognized charities are not in fact donations in the true sense of the word. Very often, payments made for a grave space, services such as saying prayers, reservation of a space for ancestral worship, admission tickets for film shows etc. are treated as donations and receipts issued accordingly. This is incorrect as such payments are made under a contractual obligation or in return for some direct advantage.

The word “donation” has not been defined in the Inland Revenue Ordinance. However, it is the Departmental view that donation, in its ordinary sense, means a gift. To constitute a gift, the property transferred must be transferred voluntarily and not as the result of a contractual obligation to transfer it, and no advantage of a material character is to be received by the transferor by way of return.

The purpose of the letter is therefore to remind you of the need to distinguish donations from other payments when issuing receipts. Payments other than those which are strictly gifts should not be termed as donations. On the other hand, you may state on your receipts that donations may be tax deductible, but you must cross out such statement when receipts other than donations in the true sense are acknowledged. In addition, please note that the correct full official name of your organization must be printed on every donation receipt.”

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Electronic Make-up Questions

30^th April, 2008

PDG Uncle Peter Hall, Speaker Patrick Kwong & Pres. Laurence Chan	Hon. Sec. Norman Lee, PE Andy Wong & PP Joop Litmaath from RC of Hong Kong

(L to R) Rtn. Jason, Rtn Jackal, visitor Mark Chong, PP Stephen, AG Eddy & SAA Heman	(L to R) Rtn. Nancy, PP Hubert, visitor Carmen, Rtn Gilbert, PP Rudy, visitor Dr. K.M.Tse & Rtn Tony

Speaker – Mr Patrick Kwong	Rtn. Tony with other members performing the Rotary Vitarobics Dance

Members & guest were doing the Rotary Vitarobics Dance together

Luncheon group photo with speaker, visitors & members

Group photos at the District Assembly held on 26th April at the Shatin Jockey Club

Group Photo with President-elects, visiting guests & the District Officers at the District Assembly

四国新聞　２００８年　（平成２０年）３月３１日（月曜日） Playright project published in Japan newspaper

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