Hong Kong Adoptee Network 10th Anniversary International Reunion (Online) Saturday 5th December 2020

Posted on December 21st, 2020 by Debbie

In 2019, realising the 10th anniversary of the HKAN was approaching, we started putting out feelers for a venue in London and had had a few tentative conversations with several people who expressed interest in helping us out. 

But in early 2020, a virus started to spread across the world scuppering our plans … or so we thought.  With the advent of Zoom, an international reunion from the comfort of our own living rooms became a distinct possibility… and so it took place on Saturday 5th December. 

This event was a celebration of the first international reunion of Hong Kong-born adoptees which took place in our birth country in 2010, and the development of the Hong Kong Adoptee Network over the last decade. 

We invited 3 people who have played key roles in the Network’s growth to speak about their contributions. We heard from Kim Rogers, creator of the Fanling Babies website; Winnie Davies, Hong Kong artist who has provided practical support with the 2010 and 2015 Hong Kong Reunions as well as individual birth family searches; and Julia Feast who conducted the BAAF study into our cohort, and who has remained a good friend to the Network since.  Their presentations are in the Private Members Area

A Note from Debbie Cook, Founder of the UK HKAN Group

WOW this is marvellous to have the technology to be able to connect with you all like this 10 years ago I was still the broadband on dial up… it was an incredible slow pace.  Internet and emails had only just started to become more common and accessible if you had a reasonable provider!

The UK HKAN group has grown so much over the 10 years, we were all eager then to learn so much about each other as we probably had spent most of our childhood thinking we were the only ones and all of sudden we had developed an extended family of sisters and brothers who would’ve thought it!   

As you will see from the PowerPoint slideshow it takes you through the 10 years of what we have achieved so much, it really is incredible!  (I apologise in advance if I have missed any event out but it maybe because I didn’t have any pictures/details)

I’d like to thank a few people who have made this possible, firstly my mother who contacted Kim Rogers who had written the “Fanling Babies Home” Website with many of the pictures given by Mei Yan.  After a little persuasion I corresponded with Kim who enabled me to connect with some more adoptees here in the UK, Diana was the second person that I had met, she encouraged me to connect more and arrange our first reunion/gathering.  Can you believe it we actually had our first few reunions in Chinese restaurants in Manchester and Birmingham.  

In 2010 six of us went out to Hong Kong to attend the first Worldwide Adoptee Reunion where we met others from all corners of the world.  It was staggering.   

Around this time Julia Feast from BAAF who headed the study of the girls that had been adopted through the ISS World refugee project.  She will be speaking later about her involvement.  The timing couldn’t have been better, and we saw our group grow frighteningly fast.  The help we received from Julia was amazing…Thank you

I would like to thank Kate for her involvement since we got back from that first reunion in 2010 she has been there managing and chairing these wonderful UK HKAN reunions. One in London and the other Birmingham annually (I really only like to be in the background honest!) 

I would like to thank other adoptees who have stepped up and helped our reunions especially when we have been looking for venues free or at a minimal cost.  

Both Sue and Kate and have been working together to organise this zoom meeting (As I am not as knowledgeable with the latest computer software available). A BIG THANK YOU AS I AM SUDRE YOU WILL AGREE IT WAS A MAMMOTH TASK

I would like to especially thank our speakers Winnie from Hong Kong (it is in the middle of the night), Julia Feast from Ex BAAF and Kim Rogers writer of the “Fanling Babies Home” website.

Lastly, I would also like to thank each and every one of you for attending the meeting as a celebration of our 10 years.  

Note

Please find all relevant presentations for this meeting in Talks, Docs and More (or click on links below)

1). Winnie Davis Transcript

http://www.hkadopteesnetwork.com/uk/talks-docs-more-info/winnie-davies-transcript/

2). Julia Feast Presentation

http://www.hkadopteesnetwork.com/uk/talks-docs-more-info/julia-feast-presentation-dec-20/

3). Kim Rogers Presentation (password protected)

http://www.hkadopteesnetwork.com/uk/talks-docs-more-info/kim-r-adoptee-talk/

4) A celebration of slides covering 10 years since the formation of UK HKAN Group by Debbie Cook (password protected)

http://www.hkadopteesnetwork.com/uk/talks-docs-more-info/uk-hkan-10-year-anniversary-slides/

http://www.hkadopteesnetwork.com/uk/talks-docs-more-info/uk-hkan-10-year-celebration-slide-show-presentation/

‘Access to these documents will only be given to members of the HKAN and those with a legitimate interest in the topic. Access decisions are made by the administrators and are final’.

Please contact Debbie for these by emailing request to hkadoptees@btinternet.com

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