Standing up for charity workers
NOBODY knows better than gracious First Lady Lavender Patten the tireless work done by Hong Kong's legion of charity workers who give of their time unselfishly to raise much-needed funds.
She is, after all, patron of so many worthy causes.
So we are sure that Lavender - soon to be hosting an Elizabethan banquet at Government House organised by restaurateur Michelle Garnaut - will distance herself from the pompous opinions offered by Ms Garnaut in an article in yesterday's Sunday Morning Post Magazine.
Talking about the soiree to benefit the Heep Hong Society, which helps handicapped children, Ms Garnaut remarked: ''I think everyone is heartily sick of the balls for 500, where hotels charge full price and everyone wonders what's in it for them.'' That's rich, coming from someone not known for her high-profile on the charity fund-raising circuit.
Here on Keeping Posted we know of dozens upon dozens of caring people who work long hours organising balls - one of the main sources of charity funds in Hong Kong - without a moment's thought as to ''what's in it for them''.
Furthermore, the hotels could just as easily put their facilities (and manpower) to other more lucrative means than giving them over to a charity for an evening. But they are always accommodating.
Oh yes. The way Ms Garnaut is going about it she'll generate much useful publicity for Heep Hong - and also a lot for herself.
