Pleasant 'oasis' has shed its colonial past
I must protest at the article by Liam Fitzpatrick in Post Magazine, on November 17, on the United Services Recreation Club (USRC) in Gascoigne Road, Kowloon.
My family have been members of the USRC for 20 years and we do not recognise the club described by Mr Fitzpatrick.
It is unfortunate that his mother suffered from racial prejudice there in the 1970s.
Certainly the club was colonial in its attitudes in those days, but this is definitely not the case now, as it has a very large number of Asian members. The staff are mostly friendly and courteous and the food and service are excellent.
I have always described the USRC as an oasis in the centre of busy Kowloon, which is what it is.
Although Gascoigne Road is very busy, when you are sitting at the poolside you are hardly aware of the traffic. Only a distant hum can be heard. It is one of the nicest clubs in Hong Kong, much enjoyed by its many members.
Mr Fitzpatrick has done the club a disservice by writing so negatively about it. Also, I am not aware that Gascoigne Road was ever under the Kai Tak airport flight path.
MARY PAINTER
Tai Po
