By President Edmundo Lao – Rotary Club of Penha

From August 21 to 26, 2025, District Governor (DG) Cassy Cheng led an official visit to Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia. The purpose of the visit was to review Rotary service projects from the past year and explore prospects for upcoming initiatives in Mongolia. Nearly 70 delegates, including a team of Hong Kong Interactors, also joined the trip, which, for most, was the very first visit to Mongolia.

During the visit, DG Cheng and her team held official meetings with 22 Rotary Clubs across Ulaanbaatar. These meetings provided an opportunity for local clubs to introduce their service projects and share Rotary’s mission to serve communities worldwide. The Mongolian Rotarians also took the delegates to visit various service sites: the Rotary Club of Ulaanbaatar showcased the Special Olympics project “Revolution is Inclusion” and a café project run by parents and children with Down Syndrome. The Rotary Club of Khangai presented its Kindergarten project, while the Rotary Club of Niislel highlighted a Global Grant initiative for newborn screening through gene testing at the First Maternity Hospital. The Rotary Club of Zuunmod introduced their “Water Well” project. The visit concluded with a Governor’s Banquet, fostering fellowship and celebration among the attendees.

The delegates immersed themselves in Mongolian culture by visiting prominent landmarks such as Sukhbaatar Square, the National History Museum, Gandan Monastery, the State Department for Gobi Cashmere, the Grand Statue of Chinggis Khan, Turtle Rock, Aryapala Meditation Temple, Zaisan Memorial Hill, and the Bogd Khan Winter Palace. Additional highlights included horseback riding in Terelj National Park and a memorable whole lamb dinner followed by a campfire celebration. The group also learned some basic Mongolian phrases, including “Thank you” (Bayarlalaa) and “Good morning” (Öglöönii mend).

By President Helen Or, Rotary Club of Neoteric Hong Kong

This is my 5th time to Mongolia, the last trip was made in 2015.  What has remained the same?  What has changed?  Ulaanbaatar is buzzing with new buildings and plagued with heavy traffic, but the real magic began when we left the city to the outskirt.  The land unfolded endlessly—green pastures rolling under a sky so wide it made you feel small; the occasional ancient rock formations leave you in wonder. The silence wasn’t empty; it felt alive, as if the earth itself had stories to tell. Mongolians carry a special spirit — tough, proud, and deeply connected to their land. A foreigner who has lived there for over a decade told me, “Life is tough here, but strangely the challenge is what’s attracting me to stay.”  Perhaps it’s a reflection of the quiet strength that’s innate in the land of Mongolia.

Change is creeping in though: cozy ger resorts, fresh fruit and vegetables on our plates, and roads that now link places once separated by days of travel. Progress is real, but uneven. The question isn’t merely what has changed—but how Mongolia can move forward, holding onto its wild beauty and soul, while narrowing, not widening, the gap between rich and poor.

By District Secretary CP Path Dicky TONG, Rotary Club of Butterfly Valley

Having been a District 3450 Rotarian, the Mongolian Clubs in Area 9 and 10 have always felt like a distant relative to me! We know they exist and do great services but we hardly get to meet them in person.

In support of District Governor Cassy Cheng, I knew the timing was right for me to make this trip, so I registered as soon as the link was available without second thoughts.

I was not disappointed at all.

Mongolia is a big Country territorially speaking but heavily dependent on mining. Poverty and inequality remain significant issues, alongside the ongoing struggle to manage the “resource curse” and its economic volatility. This set the scene for the Rotary Clubs to be working on all kinds of social initiatives serving different needs in the communities. Mostly without any Government aids and recognition. They truly are the People of Action.

We have visited a few service projects such as “Kindergarten Project” by Rotary Club of Khangai and “Newborn Screening Project” by Rotary Club of Niislel, which they are seeking international partners, these projects are typically planned for the long-term stretching over multiple years. It would only be appropriate that we should support our fellow clubs in the same District. Meanwhile, we should also learn to think further and deeper into Hong Kong’s own community and not be afraid to tackle bigger social issues.

The Governor Banquet was well organised with traditional performances and fine food. I would have hoped that they would set up the room with the area’s Rotary Clubs sharing their club projects and unique characteristics so we could get to know them better. 

As a tourist, we were served with the best meals and accommodation, visited all the attractions any tourist should visit…to me personally, horse riding was most fun of all and staying in a ger under a beautiful starry sky felt like a true blessing. I even jogged around the Premier Bolor Resort in the chilly morning just to be embraced by the rocky setting.

Frankly, if only to visit Mongolia as a tourist, then perhaps “once” is enough! However, I look forward to visiting this friendly country again and admire the work they, or “we” as Rotarians, have done to change the lives of so many!

Despite the 3,000km between Hong Kong and Ulaanbaatar, we should definitely find a fun and effective way to Unite For Good!

身為3450地區的扶輪社成員，面對第九和第十地域的蒙古扶輪社，一直像是遠房親戚般的存在！我們知道他們存在且執行偉大的社區服務，卻鮮少有機會親身相會。

為了支持地區總監Cassy Cheng，我心感此時正是踏上這趟旅程的最佳時機，因此在報名連結開放時毫不猶豫地立即登記。

而這趟旅程完全沒有讓我失望。

蒙古幅員遼闊，但經濟高度依賴採礦業。貧困與不平等仍是嚴重問題，同時還需持續應對「資源詛咒」及其導致的經濟波動。這樣的背景使得每個扶輪社必須開展各類社會服務計劃，以滿足社區的不同需求，這些工作大多在沒有政府援助與配合的情況下進行。他們真正踐行著「坐言起行」的扶輪精神。

我們參觀了數個服務項目，如Rotary Club of Khangai  的「幼兒園計畫」與Rotary Club of Niislel的「新生兒篩檢計畫」。這些計劃通常橫跨數年、需要長期經營，且正在尋求國際夥伴合作。作為同地區的友社，我們理應給予支持；同時也應學會更深入思考香港本地社區的需求，無畏直面更大的社會課題。

總監晚宴籌辦得極為出色，不僅有傳統表演，更備有精緻晚餐。若會場能設置各扶輪社的專區，展示其服務項目與特色，或許能讓我們更深入了解他們。

以遊客身份而言，我們享受了最優質的餐飲與住宿，造訪了所有必遊成吉思汗景點⋯對我個人而言，騎馬是最有趣的體驗，而在繁星點點的蒼穹下入住蒙古包更宛如天賜之福。我甚至在清冷的早晨，於度假村內慢跑，只為沉浸於嶙峋山石的懷抱。

坦白說，若僅以觀光為目的，蒙古或許「一生一次」足矣！但我仍期待再次造訪這個友善的國度，見證他們，或該說「我們」扶輪人，如何以行動改變無數生命。儘管香港與烏蘭巴托相距三千公里，我們必定能找到有趣而有效的方式「團結行善」！