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History of International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day is marked by women's groups around the world on March 8th and reflects on more than nine decades of struggle for equality, justice, peace and development.

In the USA the first National Woman's Day was observed in 1909. Two years later a tragic fire in New York, which killed 140 mostly Italian and Jewish working girls, had an enormous impact on labour legislation.

In 1910 the Socialist International met in Copenhagen and established a Women's Day to honour the movement for women's rights and to assist in achieving universal suffrage for women. In 1911 International Women’s Day celebrants in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland called for the right to vote and hold public office, the right to work, vocational training and an end to discrimination at work.

In 1913 Russian women observed their first International Women's Day. The following year around March 8th women in Europe held rallies to protest war. In 1917 Russian women struck for 'bread and peace', the Tsar fell and the Provisional Government gave women the right to vote.

Since the early years of the 20th century International Women’s Day has assumed a new global dimension: the United Nations has held four Women's Conferences and International Women’s Day has become a rallying point for co-ordinated efforts to demand women's rights and participation in the political and economic process.

History of International Women’s Day (Cantonese)

History of International Women’s Day (Mandarin)

International Women's Day in Hong Kong

HKABPW's inaugural International Women's Day Lunch in 1991 was so successful – representatives of nine women's groups spoke to 150 attendees - that the Association decided this should become an annual celebration.

HKABPW has utilized the International Women’s Day Luncheon to raise funds for the HKABPW Bursary which has been awarded to young women pursuing non-traditional fields of study such as engineering, building, surveying and logistics.

HKABPW has been fortunate to have had many distinguished speakers including Anson Chan, Chief Secretary, Fanny Cheung, Chair EOC, Anna Wu, Chair Consumer Council, Christine Loh, Legco Member and Lavender Patten, wife of Hong Kong Governor, Christopher Patten.

Recent topics have ranged through 'The Status of Women in the HKSAR', 'Future Challenges and Choices', 'The Power of Women', 'Success Strategies of Women Working Internationally', and 'Globalisation and its Impact on Women in Hong Kong'.

In 2003 HKABPW inaugurated the Women CEOs’ Roundtable by inviting three local and regional CEOs to share the triumphs and challenges behind their successful careers. The exceptional PR and publicity behind the event won the Awards for Publication Excellence in 2004 (APEC, USA).

In 2004 the Women Directors' Forum was held at which five influential local business women discussed the role of women in Hong Kong. This was a jointly hosted event.

In 2005 HKABPW had its 2^nd Women CEOs Roundtable with the subject being Financial Literacy.

March 2008

International Women's Day Annual Fundraiser
Speaker Panel and Presentation of Bursary Awards
March 6th, Thursday
Theme: Women of Courage – Forging Ahead Against All Odds

Two dynamic and admirable female speakers shared their professional and personal experiences as well as insights from their life-long endeavors in making significant contributions to society, despite obstacles that stood in their ways.

Speakers:
Mei Ng has been active in protecting the environment and served as the Director of Hong Kong's influential environment group Friends of the Earth (HK) from 1993 to 2006. As a leading green voice, Mrs. Ng promotes public participation, corporate responsibility and good governance.  During this service period, she has succeeded in spreading her passion and dedication for environmental protection by sharing experiences and views beyond the local boundaries into the Mainland as well as the international community. Since 1992, Mei Ng has traveled 33,033 kms and visited over 16 provinces and counties in China, spreading the green message to over 940,000 people.

Think globally act locally, Mrs. Ng believes in DIY environmentalism of self-empowerment -- a fair share of resources and eco responsibilities.  In 2000, Mei Ng was the first native to win the "UN Global 500 Award".  In the same year, Mrs. Ng was nominated as "China Environment Envoy".  In 2003, she was awarded the "Bauhinia Bronze Medal" from the SAR Government in recognition of her achievement.  Currently, Mei Ng is Friends of the Earth (HK) Board Member and a tireless Green Pathfinder. (www.cuncaoxin.org)

Mei Ng’s Speech .

Dr. Vivian Taam Wong, a visionary medical administrator, has devoted many years of her career promoting Integrative (East-West) Medicine. Formerly the Director for Strategy and Planning for the Hospital Authority Hong Kong, Dr. Wong has recently been appointed as Advisor in Integrative Medicine responsible for the development of Chinese Medicine and new models of shared care with western medicine through training, research and audit.

Dr. Wong’s past positions included Reader in Obstetrics & Gynaecology of HKU, Chief Executive of Queen Mary Hospital, and Chief Executive of the Hospital Authority.  

Internationally, Dr. Wong has been a Board Member of the International Federation of Obstetrics & Gynaecology and chairman of their Committee on Safe Motherhood. She has worked for the World Bank as Public Health Specialist focusing on health planning, policy and research. During that period, she also provided operational support to two World Bank projects in primary health care in China. Subsequently, she acted as consultant to the World Bank and advisor to WHO in different projects.

HKABPW Bursary 2008

HKABPW celebrated International Women’s Day by awarding two bursaries to two female students pursuing non-traditional fields in Hong Kong universities.

This year’s recipients are Ms. Queenie Chow and Ms. Cathy Wong.

Ms. Cathy Wong Kei Fung is studying for a Bachelor Degree in Architecture at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.  

Ms. Queenie Chow Hiu Kwan is taking up Leisure and Tourism Management at the Community College of City University of Hong Kong.

HKABPW has awarded bursaries to young women since 1981 and with a total of over US$40,000 in funds being awarded. 

Thank you Speech of Chow Hiu Kwan (Queenie)

Thank you Speech of Wong Kei Fung (Cathy)

March 2007

International Women’s Day Fundraiser and Dinner
March 8th, Thursday
Theme – "Creative Leadership"

This year, HKABPW explored the topic of Creative Leadership for International Women’s Day.

Yip Wing-sie, conductor and music director of the Hong Kong Sinfonietta.

Lorraine Justice is currently the Director of the School of Design at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Professor Justice was named one of the top 40 influential designers in the world by I.D. Magazine in New York City for 2006.

Vivien Chan has been identified as one of the Asia's leading business lawyers in the areas of Intellectual Property, Mergers & Acquisitions and General Corporate Practice in the annual AsiaLaw Leading Lawyers Survey 2006. In 2005, Ms Chan was awarded the Outstanding  Woman Professional and Entrepreneur Award in 2005.

Tam Hoi Ling, associate degree student studying psychology at the community college of Lingnan University and Fong Ling, an associate of arts student in Legal Studies were the recipients of HKABPW’s 2007 Bursary Awards.

Read their thank you speeches here:

Thank you Speech of Tam Hoi Ling

Thank you Speech of Fong Ling

International Women’s Day is the annual fundraiser for the HKABPW’s Bursary Awards.  To read more about the HKABPW Bursary go to http://hkabpw.org/bursary.htm   Photo Gallery of the event to come.

March 2006

International Women’s Day Gala Evening
New Dimensions in Leadership
Wednesday, March 8^th

Besides the wonderful CEOs who spoke Frederique Deleage, Director, The Paua Group; Michelle Garnaut, Owner, M on the Bund (Shanghai) and M on the Fringe (Hong Kong); and Caroline Mak, Group Health and Beauty Director for the Dairy Farm, HKABPW awarded two young women bursaries for their education. Diana Lin of TVB Pearl was the moderator of the panel discussion on “New Dimensions in Leadership”.

The Hong Kong Association of Business and Professional Women raised a considerable sum of funds for the HKABPW Bursary fund award and over 150 women were in attendance.

Articles and Photo Gallery on HKABPW’s March 8th – “New Dimensions in Leadership” sponsored by the Center of Creative Leadership:

Women at the Top, The Peak Magazine, July 2006

HK Economic Times, “Management Tips for Female Executives” Chinese version, March 14

“Management Tips for Female Executives”, March 14 (Translation)

Photo Gallery of International Women’s Day Gala Evening (Photos by Martin Yeung)

On top of strategic partnership and financial compliance, CFOs should not forget soft-skills training to improve staff effectiveness and morale.- interview with CCL Scholarship Recipient and HKABPW member Siew Quen Thong
CFO Asia "Building Castles", June 2006

HKABPW's Bursary recipients for 2006 were:

· Ms. Law Sum Yi, studying an Associate of Arts program in Translation and Interpretation at the City University of Hong Kong; and

· Ms. Ling Ka Man, studying an Associate in Business at the Hong Kong Community College, Polytechnic University

We kindly thank the following organizations and businesses for their support:

Two HKABPW Members attended The Center for Creative Leadership's The Women's Leadership Program in Singapore

HKABPW and The Center for Creative Leadership collaborated in a unique Leadership Development opportunity – the week-long women’s leadership program.  This leadership program has been attended by over 4,000 women in the last 20 years and is run 4 times a year.  The Center for Creative Leadership was the Leadership Sponsor for HKABPW’s 2006 International Women’s Day Gala Evening. 

Daisy Lo, Marketing Director for the Hong Kong Securities Institute and Siew Quen Thong, CFO of Texon, both HKABPW members attended the Center for Creative Leadership’s Women’s Leadership Program in Singapore.

CCL is a nonprofit educational institution that aims to help individuals and organizations address their leadership challenges. It is an international resource for increasing the leadership capabilities of individuals and organizations across the public, private and nonprofit sectors. For more info on CCL’s Women’s Leadership Program, click here or visit www.ccl.org

March 2005

2^nd Women CEO Roundtable: "Financial Literacy - Your Window to Success"

Thursday, 10 March, American Club, Pacific Suite 47^th Floor, Exchange Square II, Central

Can success be greatly enhanced through an awareness of financial management at the individual and professional level? Come and hear an acclaimed panel comprising:

Philippa Huckle, CEO, The Philippa Huckle Group, Hong Kong;
Ramesh Ramachandra, CEO, 3R Holdings Pte Ltd, Singapore; and
Elisabeth Scott, Executive Director, Head of Institutional Business, Schroders Investment Management (Hong Kong) Ltd

share their experiences on how to achieve security in the exploding financial marketplace. Learn the essentials of assessing and mitigating business risks therefore having a broad understanding of factors that affect the private and public economy, which is essential for every woman's long-term financial stability.

Prizes for Roundtable’s Lucky Draw were donated by:

MuLan Spa
Grand Hyatt Hotel
Planet Yoga
B & W Far East Publicity Ltd
Miramar Hotel
Jilian Lingerie on Wyndham
Royal Selangor (HK) Ltd.
Tiffany & Co of New York Ltd.
Intercontinental Hong Kong
Marriott International –hotel accommodation

Proceeds from the CEO Roundtable fund the HKABPW Bursary which was created in 1981 for young women majoring in non-traditional fields.

March 2004

Women Directors' Forum, March 8, Eaton Hotel

An evening forum with cocktail to pay tribute to the countless working women who have made selfless and profound contribution, and to provide an opportunity for participants to connect with each other and hear stories of encouragement from the speakers.

Be in the company of inspiring women who demonstrated courage, compassion, and entrepreneurship. Celebrate International Women's Day with those who lead change to make a difference.

Virginia Ng, Managing Director, DIYR Communications Ltd, "Women Branding - What Works"

Elaine Pickering, Executive Director, Vision 2047 Foundation, "Living Through Adversity"

Sara Beattie, Founder & CEO, Sara Beattie Ltd, "Of Mice & Women"

Janet Spence, Head of Human Resources, Hongkong Land Ltd, "Pride And Prejudice"

Gemay Shek, Country Risk Manager, Hong Kong, Citigroup, "The Soul of Business - Promoting Corporate Citizenship"

Organised by Symbeo2, and the venue sponsored by the Eaton Hotel. The Hong Kong Association of Business and Professional Women was the sponsoring organisation for the event. All bookings were donated to the Little Sisters of the Poor and the Hong Kong Association of Business and Professional Women's Bursary Fund.

Photo Gallery of the Women Directors' Forum

Janet Spence's speech on "Pride and Prejudice"

SCMP article Women Win Cash to Take on the Men

Post Event Press Release for Women Directors' Forum

March 2003

"Women CEOs Roundtable - Defining Experiences: Three Women CEOs and Their Pathways to Business Success",

HKABPW CEO Roundtable PR and Publicity Program Wins Award of Excellence

The HKABPW Women CEO Roundtable (March 2003) PR and Publicity Program won an "Award of Excellence" from APEX under the category of PR and Informational Campaigns. A hefty portfolio on the PR and Publicity Program was submitted to APEX by Anna Fang, past president of HKABPW and the CEO Roundtable received over HK$600,000 (US$60,000) media value reaching 2.2 million people. Media value is derived by how much an advertisement would cost in place of the published article in the publication or media (Hong Kong Business, Far Eastern Economic Review, Cosmopolitan, Apple Daily, South China Morning Post, Hong Kong Standard, etc.).

Is success in business a matter of luck and good timing or the result of a deliberate strategy? Three outstanding businesswomen Suzie Setsuko Wakai, Sara Beattie and Julie Matthews discuss and debate their defining experiences in this first HKABPW Women CEOs Roundtable. With impressive credentials and a solid background of business know-how, each panelist will relate her course towards business success and what she believes is necessary for women to succeed in today's economy.

The CEO Roundtable is the first in a series of fund-raisers for the HKABPW Bursary Fund, which distributes educational scholarships to encourage and support young Hong Kong women studying in non-traditional fields such as engineering, computer science, IT, surveying, and construction, etc.

CEO Roundtable photo gallery
CEO Roundtable Press Release
Article "Is Success Simply Luck?"
Media coverage report

Thank-yous for the Women CEO Roundtable
Testimonials

Sponsors of the 1st Women CEO Roundtable:

Acknowledgement of Supporters

anna fang public relations - English PR and Corporate Table
Odetta Sai Fung Lee - Corporate Table
Chung and Tang Public Relations - Chinese PR
Sara Beattie College

Past International Women's Day Luncheons

March 2002
"Globalization and its Effects on Women in Hong Kong"

"Globalization and Its Impact on Women in Hong Kong", Friday, March 8, 2002, American Club

These outstanding women of diverse backgrounds and disciplines will share their opinions on globalization and their efforts toward improving the status of women. They will share their passions on equal rights legislation and wome's issues, their mentors, and why they are concerned about women and their future in Hong Kong.

Anna Wu , Chairperson, Equal Opportunities Commission
Anna was a member of the Legislative Council in 1993-1995 and initiated Equal Opportunities Legislation starting in July 1994. She is currently chairman of the Operations Review Committee of the ICAC, non-executive Director of the MPF Schemes Authority, and of the Securities & Futures Commission. She is Past Chairman of the Consumer Council, co-chairperson on the Provisional Council on Reproductive Technology and active on many community boards of directors.

Dr. Judith Mackay , Director of the Asian Consultancy on Tobacco Control and Senior Policy Advisor to the World Health Organization
Judith has a long history of public service in Hong Kong and an abiding interest in women's issues. She campaigned for separate taxation for married women in 1973, chaired the women's refuge steering committee to establish Harmony House in the mid-l980s; campaigned for equal pay and terms of service, and maternity leave. She currently serves on the Women's Commission.

Veronica Pedrosa , News Anchor, CNN International
Veronica began her career in journalism in her hometown of Manila as a television reporter for ABS-CBN and re-joined CNN in Asia in early 2000. She previously worked for BBC World Television and BBC World Service. Prior to that she was a news anchor for CNN International at the global networks headquarters in Atlanta.

Beverly L W Sunn , President, Asia Pacific Properties Ltd.
Beverly is President and co-founder of Asia Pacific Properties Ltd. with offices in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing, She advises multinational corporations on relocation and real estate strategies in China. A former social worker, she specializes in developing relocation programs that focus on easing corporate employees assigned abroad into new cities and new homes. She's a former president and six year executive board member of the American Club; an active participant in the American Chamber of Commerce; and a member and former director of the Hong Kong Chapter of the International Women's Forum.

March 2001
"Success Strategies of Women Working Internationally"

March 2000
International Women's Day Luncheon - Opening remarks by Christine Loh. Featured panelists included Dr. Irene Coulson, sociologist; Ann Cooley, financial consultant; and Sara Beattie, educator, held in cooperation with The Helena May and the Today's Woman Program, School of Continuing Studies, The Chinese University of Hong Kong.