Chinese Rotarian Dr. V. K. Wellington KooThe first Man signed the United Nations Charter 1945 By Herbert K. Lau () (Rotary China Historian)26 June 2020 The year of 2020 marks the 75th Anniversary ofThe United Nations. Created 75 years ago in the ashes of World War II, the United Nations today remains true to its founding mission: to bring nations and peoples together to preserve peace and security, and improve lives everywhere. Equality and the dignity of all people remain its guiding principles, enshrined in the The United Nations Charter, signed in San Francisco, U.S.A.,on 26 June 1945. The Charter was first constituted and signed by representatives from 50 countries. The first man affixed his signature on the Charter was a Chinese Rotarian from Shanghai, Dr. V. K. Wellington Koo (), Chinas longest-serving diplomat and three-time Ambassador to the United States. Shanghai Rotary Club Honorary Rotarian Dr. V. K. Wellington Koo...

112-17The Washington Conference 1921-1922The Stage of the American and Chinese Rotarian Statesmenin making Peace on EarthBy Herbert K. Lau () (Rotary China Historian)23 February 2017Commencing the Year 2015-2016, Rotary International has designated February to be Peace and Conflict Prevention/ResolutionMonth. Ninety-five years ago in February, this mission was practically carried out by the American and Chinese Rotarian statesmen on the stage of The Washington Conference in the winter of 1921-1922--a significant international and political disarmament conference of the early 20th Century. The Conference convener was the United States President Warren G. Harding who was a Rotarian of the Rotary Club of Washington D.C. On the other hand, there was a Shanghai Rotarian being one of the plenipotentiaries of Chinas delegation: Dr. V.K. Wellington Koo (). Due to the participation of such a remarkable political conference by Rotarians,The Rotarianmagazine invited a guest writer George W. Harris to give hisobservations. The report was...

The First 75 Years of Rotary in AsiaBy Herbert K. Lau () (Rotary China Historian)1 June 2019 There is one fact that stands out clear and huge as Mount Olympus, or Fujiyama for that matter, and that is the fact that all countries need all other countries; not one of them can be spared. We need not be jealous of each others achievements; we may glory in them because in the end they will redound to our own good if we will but be sensible.~ Paul P. Harris wrote in 1935 upon his return from his Pacific tour1918 1994 The story of Asia may be dated back to June 1918. In his annual report to the Board of Directors of International Association of Rotary Clubs (IAoRC) (forerunner of Rotary International), Secretary Chesley R. Perry wrote: We have recently received word that the Rotary Club of Hong Kong, China, has been organized through...

1948Yen Chia-Kan Charter President of Taipei Rotary Club in 1948By Herbert K. Lau () (Rotary China Historian)10 October2015Yen Chia-Kan (), affectionately known as C. K. Yen to the Western world, as Vice President of the Republic of China (in Taiwan) became President under a provision of his countrys Constitution, upon the death of Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek(), the longtime ChineseNationalist leader, in 1975. Yen held office as President during the three-year balance of Chiangs term until 1978.Since October 1945, Taiwan became a province of The Republic of China(). This gave the opportunity of Rotary extension from Mainland to this beautiful island. In 1948, joining together with other 32 multi-nationalityleading citizens, Yen the Finance Commissioner of the Taiwan Provincial Government () and concurrently President of the Bank of Taiwan () organized the Rotary Club of Taipeh, and served as its first President. The organizing of Taipeh Rotary Club (later renamed as Taipei)...

William Ngartse Thomas Tam The First Rotarian Chairman of Po Leung Kuk By Herbert K. Lau () (Rotary China Historian) 1February 2016 7-12 The Honourable William Ngartse Thomas Tam(), O.B.E.,J.P., was a charter member 1930 of The Rotary Club of Hong Kong (), and later served Club President in 1936-1937. During the same year, concurrently, Tam was elected to serve as Chairman of Po Leung Kuk (). Literally, the name Po Leung Kuk in Chinese means the Society for the Protection of Women and Children.Simultaneously, Tam was also appointed one of the firstUnofficial Membersof the Urban Council () by the Hong Kong Governor Sir Andrew Caldecott().Sitting in the same Council was another Rotarian colleague, Benjamin Wong-Tape (),J.P., Charter Secretary of Hong Kong Rotary Club 1930-1932.It is interesting to know that, Sir Andrew Caldecott, G.C.M.G.,C.B.E.,K.St.J.,F.R.A.S.,F.R.S.A.,was also a former Rotarian---the Charter President 1929-1930 of The Rotary Club of Kuala Lumpur(known nowadays as Kuala Lumpur...

Shanghai Rotarian David Kwok From Textile Industrialist to Deputy Provincial Governor By Herbert K. Lau () (Rotary China Historian) 11-19-- 1 January2019 Rotarian David Kwok () Dave, a textile industrialist who was the last guardian of the Shanghai Rotary Club (), though it was terminated on 16 October 1951, until 1958 he moved to Guangdong Province () and accepted the appointment by the Central Government to serve as Deputy Governor, Guangdong Province, The Peoples Republic of China(). Dave first joined the Shanghai Rotary Club on 25 June 1930 (Classification: Cotton Factory Cotton Goods Weaving). During that era, he was the Sub-Manager of the Wing On Textile Manufacturing Co., Ltd.() which was one of the largest textile mills in the country. Though Dave had never been a president of the Club, he maintained his constant dedication to the First Avenue Club Service throughout his membership with Rotary though there had been various difficult...

6-9The Honourable KWOK Chan, CBE, KStJ, JPThe 17th President of The Rotary Club of Hong KongBy Herbert K. Lau () (Rotary China Historian) 1March2016 The Honourable KWOK Chan (), C.B.E., K.St.J., J.P. (1904-1967), was the 17th President of The Rotary Club of Hong Kong in 1951-1952. Following the footsteps of his fellow Rotarian seniors, he served also a lawmaker, the Police Reserve, St. John Ambulance, Hong Kong Football, as well as the Asian Football Confederation, etc.Early Education KWOK Chan, an ethnic Chinese of Kwangtung Sam Shui (), was born in the British Crown Colony Hong Kong in 1904, and was the second son of Mr. Kwok Siu-Lau (//), J.P., who was the Chief Compradorof the Banque de lIndochine(), Hong Kong, in 1894-1906.Kwok had his secondary education in the Diocesan Boys School (), Bonham Road (), followed by commercial training at The University of Hong Kong. 2Prominent BusinessmanKwokjoined the Banque de lIndochine in...

7-9--Hong Kong Rotarian David W. K. AuCo-Founder of Chung Chi College By Herbert K. Lau () (Rotary China Historian)1 January 2018Co-Founder & the First Chairman of the College Board of Governors 1951-1955In the name of Christ, there were 3 Christians initiated to establish the Chung Chi College () in Hong Kong in 1951: (1) The Right Reverend Ronald Owen Hall, Bishop of the Victoria Diocese and South China Mission, Chung HuaSheng Kung Hui (i.e. The Anglican Church in China) (); (2) Mr. David W. K. Au (), Representative of the Board of Regents of St. Johns University of Shanghai (); and (3) Dr. Lee Ying-Lin (), President 1938-1948 of Lingnan University in Canton (1938-1948).Among them, there were 2 Rotarians: Au was an Active Member of Hong Kong Rotary Club () while Lee was Charter Member 1931 of the former Canton Rotary Club (), and later Club Secretary in 1937-1938. 2In the beginning of the...

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Peter K. P. Hall Dedicated Youth Service through Scouting By Herbert K. Lau () (Rotary China Historian)1 January 2017 Affectionately called Uncle Peter by most of his fellows, Peter K. P. Hall () (1925-2016), of the Rotary Club of Hong Kong Island East (), was elected the 22nd Rotary International District 345 Governor in 1981-1982 when the District was compiled with clubs in the northern portion of the Chinese Province Taiwan (), the British Crown Colony Hong Kong () and the Portuguese Territory Macao ().Peter was the second district governor provided by the Club since its inception on 6 April 1954.His senior was John Yuen (), the 14th Governor in 1973-1974.After the completion of oneyear of service as a Director 1960-1961 of the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals (), Peter was invited to join the Hong Kong Island East Rotary Club.According to a casual talk between Peter and the author, he was given a...

Many FIRSTs in the Rotary Club of Hong Kong By Herbert K. Lau () (Rotary China Historian) 1 July 2020 The British Crown Colony Hong Kong located at the south China coast was the first prospect of Rotary International to extend Rotary landing on the continent of Asia. The story has to be dated back to June 1918. In his annual report to the Board of Directors of International Association of Rotary Clubs(forerunner of Rotary International), Secretary Chesley R. Perry wrote: We have recently received word that the Rotary Club of Hong Kong, China, has been organized through the efforts of Mr. Coombes of Calcutta, who when in Chicago recently accepted the assignment to organize a Rotary Club in Calcutta. However, failure reports were received after several attempts not until the visit by Jim to Hong Kong in 1930 the last goal of his Far East Rotary Extension Mission in two and a...

Dr. The Honourable Sir M. K. Lo, KT, CBE, LLD, JPCo-founder and First President of Asian Football ConfederationBy Herbert K. Lau () (Rotary China Historian)15 September 2017Dr. The Honourable Sir M. K. Lo(), Kt., C.B.E., LL.D., J.P., an ethnic Eurasian solicitor, was President 1934-1935 of the Rotary Club of Hong Kong () after he had served one year of Vice-President. He was the fourth president of the Club.Lo was a football lover who was already the Vice President of the Hong Kong Football Association () in 1939.The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) () is one of the 6continental confederations within International Federation of Association Football (FIFA)and is the governing body of association football in Asia and Australia. The proposal to establish the AFC could be traced back to1952 Helsinki Olympics. To the Asian Games in Manila, The Philippines,two years later, the establishment of AFC was finally raised for decision by representatives of 12Asian nations...