The Foreign Correspondents' Club Hong Kong

FCC Update on Restrictions

FCC Update on Restrictions

Dear Members:

As the Hong Kong government has lessened some of the anti-virus related restrictions starting Friday July 31 yet is keeping in place others, the club will reopen with the following:

•	All restaurants and bars will reopen on Friday, July 31, yet will close at 6 p.m. every day. There will be no food and beverage service after 6 p.m. except for take-away service.

•	The takeaway menu will be available from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., though last orders must be made by 8:30 p.m. The menu can be downloaded from our website at fcchk.org. Please place orders with the FCC Restaurant at 2844 2806 or [email protected]. All orders will be confirmed by a phone call.

•	No more than two people will be allowed at tables in all outlets or at groups around the bars. Because of this limit, no guests will be allowed at this time — only members can enter the club.

•	All outlets will be reduced to 50% capacity. Please book ahead for lunch.

•	No in-person events or live performances will be held at this time. Virtual events via Zoom will continue.

•	The gym will remain closed yet the workroom will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

In keeping with the government requirements and best practices, especially with an uptick in coronavirus cases, all members, guests and staff must wear face masks except when eating or drinking. Hand sanitizer must be used by all. The FCC will strictly continue the check-in, temperature-taking and declaration measures upon entry to the club, as well as the frequent cleaning protocols throughout the building.

The staff will continue to take future bookings for banquets and we hope to again plan in-person club events once the restrictions lift.

Thank you for your continued support of the FCC.

30 July 2020

FCC Update on Further Restrictions

FCC Update on Further Restrictions

Dear Members:

As the Hong Kong government has tightened restrictions through August 4 to address another rise in coronavirus cases in the city, the club will close its food and beverage dine-in service and provide only take-away service. Details include:

•	Beginning at 6 p.m. today (Tuesday July 28) all restaurants and bars will close until the restrictions lift. There will be no food and beverage dine-in service. Takeaway service will be expanded.

•	The club is offering a special breakfast takeaway menu from 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Monday to Friday, and from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.

•	The regular takeaway menu will be available from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., though last orders must be made by 8:30 p.m. The menu can be downloaded from our website at fcchk.org. Please place orders with the FCC Restaurant at 2844 2806 or [email protected]. All orders will be confirmed by a phone call.

•	Public gathering limits are further reduced from four to two people under the new restrictions.

•	No in-person events or live performances will be held at this time. Virtual events via Zoom will continue.

•	The gym and workroom will remain closed.

In keeping with the government requirements and best practices, especially with the uptick in coronavirus cases, all members, guests and staff must wear face masks except when eating or drinking. Hand sanitizer must be used by all. The FCC will strictly continue the check-in, temperature-taking and declaration measures upon entry to the club, as well as the frequent cleaning protocols throughout the building.

The staff will continue to take future bookings for banquets and we hope to again plan in-person club events once the restrictions lift.

Thank you for your continued support of the FCC.

28 July 2020

FCC Restrictions Relaxed

FCC Restrictions Relaxed

Dear Members:

The Hong Kong government starting Friday August 28 will relax some of the anti-virus restrictions. The club will extend its hours and comply with the following:

•	All restaurants will close at 9 p.m. every day, last orders must be made by 8:30 p.m.

•	The takeaway menu will still be available from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., though last orders must be made by 8:30 p.m. The menu can be downloaded from our website at fcchk.org. Please place orders with the FCC Restaurant at 2844 2806 or [email protected]. All orders will be confirmed by a phone call.

•	Given spacing requirements, the FCC will continue to restrict guests to one per member. No more than two people will be allowed at tables in all outlets.

•	All outlets will remain at 50% capacity. Please book ahead.

•	No in-person events or live performances will be held at this time. Virtual events via Zoom will continue.

•	The gym will remain closed yet the workroom will be open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

In keeping with government requirements and best practices, all members, guests and staff must wear face masks except when eating or drinking. Hand sanitizer must be used. The FCC will strictly continue the check-in, temperature-taking and declaration measures upon entry to the club, as well as the frequent cleaning protocols throughout the building.

The staff will continue to take future bookings for banquets and we hope to again plan in-person club events once the restrictions are fully lifted.

Thank you for your continued support of the FCC.

26 August 2020

International Press Institute condemns Jimmy Lai arrest

The International Press Institute (IPI) released a statement on April 20, 2020, condemning the arrest of Next Media group founder, Jimmy Lai.

“Alarm bells should be ringing loudly over the arrest of Jimmy Lai”, IPI Deputy Director Scott Griffen said. “His detention is a sign that while the world is distracted by the coronavirus pandemic, China is moving to clamp down on independent media in Hong Kong in the wake of the territory’s pro-democracy movement. Hong Kong authorities should drop charges against Lai and protect the free flow of independent news and information – something the world needs now more than ever.”

You can read the full report here.

FCC Update on Restrictions

FCC Update on Restrictions

Dear Members:

As the Hong Kong government has extended restrictions through July 28 to address a rise in coronavirus cases in the city, the club will remain open yet the following restrictions will be continued. They include:

All restaurants and bars will close at 6 p.m. every day. There will be no beverage or food service after 6 p.m. except for take-away service.

The club will offer a special takeaway menu until 8:30 p.m.

No more than four people will be allowed at tables in the outlets or at groups around the bars.

All outlets will be reduced to 50% capacity so please book ahead for lunch, which is expected will be a busy time.

No in-person events or live performances will be held at this time. Virtual events via Zoom will continue.

The gym will be closed.

The FCC will continue to restrict guests to three per member at all times.

The staff will continue to take future bookings for banquets and we hope to again plan in-person club events once the restrictions lift.

Thank you for your continued support of the FCC.

20 July 2020

An open letter responding to the Hong Kong Immigration department over the visa status of journalists in Hong Kong

Last month, we wrote to the Hon Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and the Director of Immigration, Erick Tsang Kwok-wai, requesting answers to questions around the expulsion of some U.S. journalists from China and their visa status in Hong Kong, which have serious implications for press freedom in the city. Today, we publish the government’s response and a further letter from the FCC again asking for specific answers to our questions.

Notice of AGM

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Download FAQ

Nominees for the Election of The Board of Governors 2020-2021

Here are the nominations for the FCC Board of Governors 2020-2021. Below are links to each nominee’s bio and policy statement. Please read them before voting.

	Note:
	a.	Please indicate your vote by putting a “✓” in the appropriate bracket. Any mark other than a “✓” shall invalidate this Ballot paper.
	b.	If vote(s) casted exceed(s) the number allowed in respective capacity, this Ballot paper shall be invalid.
	c.	Bio & policy statements of the candidates are available at the FCC website <www.fcchk.org>.
	d.	The completed Ballot paper must be received by the Club, either by mail or in the Ballot box, not later than 3pm on Wednesday, 20 May 2020.


Candidate

PRESIDENT: (The position of President can be voted by Correspondent members only) (Vote for not more than one)
	1. Jodi SCHNEIDER – Bloomberg News

	FIRST-VICE PRESIDENT: (The position of First Vice President can be voted by Correspondent members only) (Vote for not more than one)
	2. Eric WISHART – Agence France-Presse

	SECOND VICE-PRESIDENT: (The position of Second Vice President can be voted by Correspondent, Journalist or Associate members) (Vote for not more than one)
	3. Tim HUXLEY – Mandarin Shipping

	CORRESPONDENT MEMBER GOVERNORS: (The position of Correspondent Governor can be voted by Correspondent members only) (Vote for not more than eight)
	4. Katie FORSTER – Agence France-Presse
	5. Jennifer HUGHES – Reuters
	6. Tripti LAHIRI – Quartz
	7. Richard MACAULEY – Bloomberg
	8. Shibani MAHTANI – The Washington Post
	9. Keith RICHBURG – Journalism and Media Studies Centre The University of Hong Kong
	10. Richard Blake SCHMIDT – Bloomberg
	11. Kristine SERVANDO – Bloomberg
	12. Kristie LU STOUT – CNN
	13. Dan STRUMPF – The Wall Street Journal

	JOURNALIST MEMBER GOVERNORS: (The position of Journalist Governor can be voted by Correspondent or Journalist members) (Vote for not more than two)
	14. Clifford BUDDLE – SCMP
	15. Edith TERRY – Freelance
	16. Adam WHITE – Cedar Communications

	ASSOCIATE MEMBER GOVERNORS: (The position of Associate Governor can be voted by Correspondent, Journalist or Associate members) (Vote for not more than four)
	17. Genavieve ALEXANDER – Genavieve Co. Ltd
	18. Olga BOLTENKO – Fangda Partners and The University of Hong Kong
	19. Andy CHWOROWSKY – Independent Consultant
	20. Antony DAPIRAN – Freelance Consultant/Writer
	21. Tariq DENNISON – Managing Partner at GFM Group
	22. Sunshine FARZAN – Tricor Group
	23. LIU Kin-ming – KM & Associates
	24. Christopher SLAUGHTER – Consultant

Clare Hollingworth Fellowship

FCC Health Measures Remain in Place, Main Bar and Lounge Are Open

FCC Health Measures Remain in Place, Main Bar and Lounge Are Open

The FCC will continue the measures to protect the health and safety of the club’s staff, members and guests that were put in place starting Friday 27 March. These are in keeping with government measures to try to contain a second wave of the coronavirus outbreak in Hong Kong.

The government is requiring some facilities to close for two weeks. The FCC’s management has been told by the Hong Kong government that the FCC’s bar and lounge will not be required to close as the club’s liquor license is a general license for a food business, which is not affected by the new rules.

Bert’s and the FCC gym will continue to be closed in accordance with the government guidelines.

The club will continue for the foreseeable future to abide by, and strictly enforce, the following measures:

* Reduce the club’s hours of operations — from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
* Allow only one guest per member at all times
* Increase distance between tables and visitors and promote social distancing
* Cancel all banqueting until further notice
* Continue the check-in, temperature taking and declaration measures upon entry to the club
* Require all members, guests and staff to wear masks except when eating or drinking
* Require hand sanitizer to be used by all members, guests and staff
* Continue enhanced and frequent cleaning protocols throughout the club

As noted when these measures were implemented on 27 March, this will allow us to continue to serve our members, which is important as we are a professional club that supports working journalists. These measures go beyond the government requirements for our club and allow us to better protect the health and safety of our staff, members and guests.

If the requirements or the situation in Hong Kong changes further, our plans can and will be revised accordingly.

Thank you

3 April 2020