@Ílt @orrtßponùent July 1985
The "Not the Food and Beverage Committee" AT the first meeting of the new Board of the club on June 6, it was decided that a Management Liaison Committee should be set up to act as a sort of channel between members, the management
and the Board for members'views positive as well as negative - on the facilities and services of the club. The temptation to call this a Food
and Beverage Committee was resisted, since its brief will be wider than that and the last thing anybody on the Board wants to impose on itself or the management is a "recipe reception point." It is the view of the Board that the manager and staff, who are paid officials of the club, must be left to carry out
their duties in providing menus
and meals, as well as other services, without constant interference from the members
and the Board. Having said that, of course, the Board recognises the abso-
lute necessity for the consideration of constructive ideas as well as of complaints.
The Board had a long and at times reasonably heated debate on how the new committee was to function, what its duties would be and how it should start going about its business. The longest debate was over a suggestion that the committee, once it was constituted,
should seek, through the form
of
a
questionaire, the views of all members Committee Chairman, Graham
Hillier
on what was needed to improve the
club's services. The upshot of this was that is was decided that the committee would with some professionâl advice from Chris Minter, prepare a question-
aire
to
establish
the memberçhip's
attitude to the club and its facililios. It is hoped that it will be ready to $o out with the September issue of Thé Co¡respondent and all members oooperation will be much appreciated. f; , Possibly the most unrewarding job on the board - heading this Management Liaison Comittee - has been bravely undertaken by towering Graham Hillier of Reuters, who is just starting his second term as a governor. Recognising that he will need help, it was decided to add to the committee fiery Ian Findlay-
Brown, diplomatic David Miller and matinee-idol Russell Cawthorne. For their protection, it was decided that complaints/suggestions/praise etc from members should only be submitted in writing, and no members of the Board will discuss such matters at the bar. Cheers!
Sir Philip serves vinegar at lunch THE packed house that turned out to hear the wit and wisdom of Sir Philip
"There is a limit to the amount of
Haddon-Cave at the FCC on May 30 came away instead with a lesson in the powers and privileges of a luncheon
derogatory sarcasm and negative criticism that the system can withstand without partially disintegrating before the conversion process gets under wa¡" he
speaker.
said.
For the former Chief Secretary added an extra measure of vinegar to the mealtime fare by using what was billed as a lighthearted valedictory to his years in
government to throw more than a few barbs at the press, After pleading "Don't take me too seriousl¡" Sir Philip quickly moved into a lecture on the responsibilities or journalists reporting on a system in the midst of profound political transition.
To Sir Philip, journalists were often a muddlesome lot, happiest at "government bashing" and following the dictum (neatly laid to Cicero) that "If you have no news, write the f,rrst thing that comes into your head." He accused the press of putting two and two together to make seven, of in-
consistenc¡
of wanton
disregard for
cause/effect relationships and historical context, and of preferring semantics to
substance.
His remarks drew predictable rejoinders from the media establishment, including fhe Far Eastern Economic Review's Derek Davies who mused that enough "authoritarian straws" seemed to be wafting through Hong Kong these days to make "a communal haystack or two." But any club member intent on seiz-
ing the official bull by the horns and challenging Sir Philip directþ at the luncheon was to be disappointed: the ground rules ofhis appearance stipulated no questions.
After all, it
was
just in fun.
New Committee to develoB activities
AG invited THE Attorney-General, Michael Thomas, accepted an invitation to attend
A NEV/ committee,
called the Professional Committee, has been established and the first meeting was held on June
Its functions are to develop and sustain the professional activities ofthe club, in particular through organising speakers, seminars and discussions. 14.
Composed of a Chairman, (to be either the President or First VicePresident) and six board members, it
F.C.C. President Philip Bowring, who heads the ProÍessional Committee.
also includes two non-board members who are either Journalist or Correspondent members. The committee is allowed to invite other members to attend on an ad-hoc basis. The current Chairman is Philip
Bowring and the board members
are
Alan Hargreaves, Ian Findlay-Brown, Peter Mackler, Michael Malik, Cheah Cheng-Hye and David Miller. The two non-board members are Diana Lin of ATV and Jack Spackman
of the
SCMP.
The Committee
wif
keep a watching professional
brief on a number of
matters such as changes in Hong Kong's laws and rgulations which may affect members; and on any action by autho-
rities,
in
a
The'Watchman
board on June 6 and it turned out not
THERE was some concern raised at the Annual General Meeting over the disappearaqce from the club of the familiar f,rgure of the overnight watchman. I¿te (and earþ) birds were concerned at his
The Committee will meet not less than once a month and division of responsibilities within the committêe will proceed on the basis of cónseqé'us but if there is a irresolvable conJliit a vote can be taken at the discretion of'the Chairman with only permanent inembers of the committee entitled to vote The committee will keep the'Board of Governors informed of all its activities and will bring before it all proposals involving financial outlays. It will not itself issue public statements or take stands on professional matters but advise the board on possible courses of action and draft proposals for the Board's consideration.
disappearance and replacement and re-
ports that this was over a ciìse of petty pilfering.
Unfortunately the case was not fully explained at the meeting, leaving some members still concerned. The point was raised that the Board of Governors should know about the dismissal of staff and should have know about this particular case.
The matter was discussed by the be so simple. The man in question was not an employee of the club, but of the security agency the club uses. 'When an allegation was made and the agency was informed, it withdrew the man and replaced him. He is still employed by the agency elsewhere, as we understand
Mike Malik
it. The manager assured the board that
while he does not routinely report the comings and goings of employees, he would consult the board on any c¿rse where allegations of wrong-doing were in dispute. In this case, since the man was not employed by the club, he did not think it was appropriate.
Legco
serYers.
Hong Kong or elsewhere,
Cheah Cheng Hye
on the
Legco member Allen Lee and a member of the Hongkong Ob-
against members or correspondents contrary to reasonable standards of
justice and press freedom. The Professional Committee is also responsible for overseeing the production of the house magazine.
Seminar
Powers and Privileges Act held at the FCC on July 8. The seminar was the fìrst major event to be organised by the newly formed Professional Committee. Others invited to take part were Henry Litton. QC.,
Peler Mackler
The honeymoon is over
Quiet please
PROFESSOR Joyce Kallgren, Head of the Centre for Chinese Studies at the University of California, Berkele¡ and
pectactions of the early days of US-Sino
THE Board has passed a resolution, stating categorically that no food or drink is to be allowed in the Líbrary
Soviet relations as one factor, and the Chinese tendency to window shop rather than buy American technology as an-
and that silence must be maintained at all times except, of course, in the newly installed telephone box.
other.
The Library is open to all members to use and cannot be .booked'. There have been complaints recently about groups comandeering the room for
Professor of Political Science at the University of California, Davis, who is one of the few Americans to visit China annually since 1974 spoke at a club
luncheon on June 19 on her way home from her latest, very extensive, tour in
the People's Republic. A fluent Mandarin speaker, the professor gave members the benefit of her extensive knowledge of current SinoAmerican relations with some interesting insights into why the entente is not proving as productive as was first hoped or is moving as fast as it fîrst did. Professor Kallgren felt that the honeymoon period was over and now the nitty
gritty problems of making the marriage
work were being ironed out, but she was 'cautiously optimistic' about the future for, as she said "With no other country have we moved from being real enemies to being real friends". Whilst not minimising the areas of
tension
in Asia
today
-
Kampuchea.
Korea etc, she felt the era ofrevolution is over and she foresees reduced tension over the next five year. As to why some of the great but possibly unrealistic ex-
friendship have not materialised she pointed to the slight thaw in Chinese
On the more positive side however
she felt the Sino-American friendship will help to find the solution to Taiwan and contributed to the easier solving of the Hong Kong problem.
meetings and the staff have been asked
to see that this does not happen.
At your request Feeling the hegt? So popular
was the Greek night in HAVE you been hot and botheied in February this year that Manager Heinz the club recently? tt woul¿ nof te ;; G¡abner has arranged another one. It prising, since we have suffered some will take place on Saturda¡ July 13 and trouble with the main aiiconditiclner. the huge buffet spread will feature such The trouble was with t;;;;."*", requested delicacies as Dolmadakia, motor which had to be re_wound. It ìVloussaka, Täramasalata, souvlakia, appears that unless we spend another Fassoulita salata and Baklava. S'Sò,OOO_$60,000 i;; u ,oio_¡v, we are The music, provided by Tom Lloyd at the mercy of such ureaioowns. tf we and his Band, in deference to the aver- wait until there is a breakdown before age age of club members, will be con- spending the money, tt *n still be c_e_ntrating on golden oldies from the "i.compressors weeks of aehy sinóå the '50s and '60s. have to be exported from tfre US. Heinz regrets that prate smashing is Seems we have to either sweat finannot on the itinerary. cially or literally.
Life begins øt...?
ITwas practically the Foreign-Correspondents-On-Sea. June
18 saw the celebration of the birthday of prominent member, and ex-member of the FCC Board of
Governors,
Sue
Girdwood. A private party took to the sea aboard the good
junk 'Dolphin'
and
headed over to the 'Frog and Toad' on
One slice or two? Sue prepqres to cane up the giant birthday cake.
Georgina Lee
(Hilton Internatíonal) penny Byrne (HKTA) and Mike
Lantau which was Westlake (FEER) tuck inb the spare ribs at ihe Frog and Toad. opened especially for the occasion. under the watchful eyes of the FCC The tone of the evening was set on waiters, the party í*¿.¿ its way boarding by through the gloom puri-ìrr" frogs and blow up four up onto the roof of the restaurant enough, 'Me where large quantities of barbecued field the Cat'. and chicken wings After a reasonably intoxicating iiållåÎhtriåiges
trip,
Julia's baby
For yoar informøtion
CONGRATULATIONS from everyone at the Club go to Club Steward, Julia Suen; Heniz Grabner's "Girl Friday," who produced her first child, a bonny bouncing boy weighing in at over seven lbs, on June 11. The Club sent her a basket of fruit with your best wishes.
Paying
FOR the benef,rt of new - and old - members, here are the official opening times of our various club facilities:-
Lunch Dinner
it back
Verandah Grif BreaKast
AS last year's figures showed the Club's f,rnances to be in a healthy state, the Board has decided to follow the previous Board's resolution and pay off the remaining HK$809,000 owing on the leased kitchen and airconditioning equipment by the end of July.
Lunch Dinner Main Bar Pool Bar
Snow.
Our condolences also go to Angela Tasker, whose husband Nigel died gn June 26. Nigel, brother of Far Eastern Economic Review Chief Correspondent Rodney Tasker, was a relative newcomer to the Club, having joined in 1982, but his cheerful face will be sorely missed by his many friends.
Sunday
12.00-15.00 18.30-24.00
12.00-15.00 18.30-24.00
Closed Closed
07.30-09.30 12.00-15.00 18.30-24.00
07.30-09.30 12.00-15.00
Closed
Closed Closed Çlosed
10.30-02.00 11.30-01.00
10.3042.00
10.3042.00
11.30-01.00
11,3041,.00
Men
WE are sorry to record the death of
for many years. We offer our condolences to his widow, journalist Brigid
Saturday
Here's when you can use the Health Corner Women from 14,00 to 20.00 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 07.00 to 14.00 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 07.00 to 20.00 on Tuesdays and Thursdays
Obituaries one of the club's longer-standing members, Neville Chesney formerþ of The Hong Kong Tatler, who had a heart attack on June 24. Neville joined the Club in 1966 and was a familiar figure
Mon-Fri
Main dining room
On the move
Book barter
SOON to be leaving Hong Kong is Mike Jones, former Controller at the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club and now with
CHRIS Minter has donated a large batch of paperback to the Club's library for
a security firm. Mike
leaves town in August but the good news is that he is not going far, just to Bangkok where he says - perhaps foolishly in view of that city's popularity with FCC members - that all friends will be welcome to visit him and his wife, Jif.
A warm welcome is extentled to the following new members Correspondent Sue Kendall, Agence France Presse
Michael Dunn Asian Computer Monthly
Jack Maisano
Georgina Holt
Waiviat¿
HK Current I¿w
Wei Peh Ti Oman Today
Service Associate J.G.J. Chittenden
Bill Hill
Citibank
Dimension Data Systems
and members are encouraged to come and ofÊload any paperbacks surplus to requirements. Just give them to the off,rce.
Far East Trade Press
Journalist Nate Nissen
which the board is extremely appreciative. Paperbacks being regarded by most people as of having little, if an¡ value (when did your friends return any ofyours they had borrowed?) Chris has added only one condition to his donation. While members are welcome to borrow any of the books, if the loan is going to be permanent they should, in honour, replace it with one - or more own. - ofIn their fact the Board is very keen to get a whole donation-barter system going
Michael Davies Garden City Food Services HK Ltd.
Putting it together Editor
-
Janine Wookey Tel: 'Work
5-245095 Home 5-593454
Newslette¡ Liaison - Michael Malik (FEER) Tel:5-8936688 Printers - Ad-Asia, Worldwide Commercial Bldg, 34 Wyndham Street Central: Tel: 5-256067.