More on Service in China
16 December 2002

We left off last week with the premise that District 3450 has a distinct and special role in putting Rotary clubs back in the Mainland of China. Just as Hong Kong has played a special role in bridging the gap between China and the world in trade and commerce, we believe that Hong Kong can do the same in other areas including service clubs. The recent success of the Lions Clubs International in establishing Lions clubs in South China has indeed spoken volumes.

As some commentators have put it, China and service organizations such as Rotary and Lions could be made for each other: service organizations would like to expand their service and ideals to cover the most populous continent in the world and China would welcome assistance from those with resources to relieve those in necessity that are less accessible to social services.

All indications are that globalization will stay, ultimately for the benefit of the world and the human race. It is a question of time that Rotary will operate fully in every country. For China, recent developments are such that this could happen sooner than Evanston might think if the process is handled properly and with sensitivity.

We have seen the strong and unqualified support from Mainland leaders for international conventions held in Hong Kong. For example, President Jiang himself addressed the Fortune Global Forum when it was held in Hong Kong in 2001, and more recently, Premier Zhu attended the World Congress of Accountants and gave a keynote speech. If Hong Kong hosts an RI Convention, we can expect equally strong support from the Mainland leadership. An early decision on the part of RI to hold an RI Convention in Hong Kong therefore could create such goodwill and understanding between Evanston and the Mainland that could accelerate the process for Rotary clubs to operate fully in China once more.