the lnternational P.E.N. by its English Centre at a recent congress in Barce-
leases, in 15 countries, recorded in the seven months, and no one source of
lona, which may soon come to have
support for those prisoners released
special meaning for Hong Kong: "The English Centre draws the atten-
can be identified as paramount. How many were reprieved from death because killing them was made to seem more trouble than letting them go is
tion of all P.E.N. Centres to the insidious threat and reality of censorship from any application of the concept of 'political correctness'; and urges the Assem-
and publicly condemn every instance where the concept of 'political correct-
unknown. No silver bullets. No glory days. And all that effort in the knowledge that some of those people one is trying to save may well be extremely u npleasant types themselves. Why bother?
ness' is used to censor the expression
These organizations' effofts are not
of free thought by implied or overt politi-
about the rights and wrongs of individual cases - they are about making sure more individuals survive and have the chance to make their cases. Like other global movements, such as environmentalism, they are an effort to raise "the
bly of Delegates to resolve that, 'All P.E.N. Centres shall monitor, record
cal, commercial, academic or social threat, anathema to all those who share P.E.N.'s concern for and desire to promote freedom of expression."' ln short, they work hard to keep the final, fatal statistics of killings and disappearances to a minimum and to shorten the lengths of what are clearly politically motivated detentions. Known direct rewards are small: there were only 39 re-
lowest common denominators" of human values and the behaviour of national governments as they relate, in this case, to the exercise of freedom of expression. The only thing worse than
the world's civilians being driven to finally fighting back in this way, would be the alternative.
Editors note: lf you are interested in joining the new P.E.N. (English-language) Chapter'in Hong Kong contact Fred Armentrout (Tel: 526-0165 or Fax: 810-1289 office) or David Clive Price, who is preparing a fundraising event for the P.E.N. Writers in Prison Committee later this year. They also have information on the P.E.N. (Chinese-language) Chapter in Hong Kong. The lnternational Federation of Journalists can be joined through the Hong Kong Journalists Assn., which also has contact information for the Committee to Protect Journalists. Amnesty lnternational has an active chapter in Hong Kong.)
NEW MEMBERS CORRESPONDENT
tia, Managing Director, Hilland Knowlton
dent, Los Angeles Times. Daniel
Sunday Morning Post. Clara Weatherall, Freelance Journalist.
Asia Ltd. Noel McCulla, Associate Director, Cresvale Far East Ltd.
Schwartz, Publisher, Ulmer Brothers/ Japan M & A Reporler. Young Soo
ASSOCIATE
Michael Pasquale, Vice President lnternational Public Affairs, AT&T. Christophe Swinarski, Head of Delegation,
Martyn Bignold, Sub-editor, Reuters. Ghristine Courtney, Special Correspon-
Shin, Correspondent, The Kyunghyang Shinmun (Daily News) South Korea. JOURNALIST
Barry Bakker, News Reader, RTHK Alan Boyd, Journalist, South China Morning Posf. Susan Bamber, Sub-
Honolulu Press Club, PO Box 817, Honolulu, Hawaii 96808.
PEN is a non-political, non-govern-
mental Unesco organisation with no trade union affiliations. Although primarily a forum where writers can meet freely to discuss their
tions in spite of political or international upheavals. * ln all circumstances, and particularly in time of war, works of art, the patri-
mony of humanity at large, should be left untouched by national or political
work, PEN is also a voice speaking out for writers imprisoned or harassed for criticising their governments orfor publishing other unpopular views. The letters PEN originally stood for Poets, Playwrights, Essayists, Editors and Novelists, but now membership is open to radio ancl- TV scriptwriters, translators, historians and other writers actively engaged in any branch of
race, class and national hatreds, and to champion the ideal of one humanity living in peace in one world. * PEN stands for the principle of un-
literature irrespective of national ity, race,
hampered transmission of thought within
colour or religion. PEN's Chafter affirms that:
each nation and between all nations, and members pledge themselves to
30
THE CORRESPONDENT JUNE 1992
passron. * Members of PEN should at all times use what influence they have in favour of good understanding and mutual respect between nations; they pledge themselves to do their utmost to dispel
a free press and opposes
arbitrary censorship in time of peace. lt believes thatthe necessary advance ofthe world towards a more highly organised political and economic order renders a free criticism of governments, administrations and institutions imperative. And
since freedom implies voluntary
to oppose such evils of a free press as mendacious publication, deliberate falsehood and distortion of facts for political
and personal ends.
Corporation. Jeffrey Wood, Group Manager/Corporate Services, BursonMarsteller Public Relations. John Would, Managing Director, Global Affairs Ltd.
The Victoria Club. Level 41 , Rialto South Tower, 525 Collins St., Melbourne, úictoria sooo.
BRITAIN London Press Club & Scribes. 4 Carmelite St., London EC4, UK.
Overseas Press Club,
Wìg and Pen Club, 2291230 Strand, London WC2R Tel: 01 -353-6864
Tel:01 -930-0445
1
BA.
Pittsburgh Press Club, 300 Sixth Ave , Pittsburgh, PA 15222, USA rel: (412) 471-4644
CANADA
Reno Press & Virginia Club, 221 So Virginia St., Reno, NV 90501, USA.
Ottawa National Press Club, 150 Wellington, Ottawa KIP 544 Winnipeg Press Club, Marlborough Hotel, 331 Smith St., Winnipeg, Mlanitoba, R3b 2G9,
Indianapolis Press Club. 150 W. Market, lndianapolis, lN 46204, USA Tel: (31 7) 237-6222
DENMARK
Grealer Los Angeles Press Club 2005 N Highland Ave.,Los Angeles, cA 90068-3272
lnt'l Press Centre, 1
4 Snaregard, DK-1 205, Copenhagen K
JAPAN FCC Tokyo, 7-1 Yurakocho, Tokyo. Tel: 21 1 3161
1
-Chome, Chiyoda-Ku,
KOREA Sadan Pubin Seoul Club, 208 Jangchoong-Dong, 2-Ka, Chung-Ku, Seoul, Korea. Seoul Foreign Corr's Club, 18/F, Korea Centre Bldg 25, 1 -Ka, Taepyong-Ro, Chung-Ku, Seoul, Korea
NEW ZEALAND National Press Club of Welìington, POBox2327, Wellington
PALAU Palau Community Club. P.O. Box 598, Koror, Palau 96940
FBANCE
PHILIPPINES
The Press Club of San Francisco 555 Post Street, San Francisco, CA 94102 Tel: (415) 775-7800
Societe De Gestion Du Presse Club De France 11 Ave. D'Lena 751 16, Paris
Manila Overseas Press Club Old Elks Club Bldg., T. M. Kalaw, Manila. Tel: (632) 521-9542
AUSTRALIA
GEBMANY
Canberra National Press Club. 16 National Circuit, Barton, ACT 2600.
Journalisten Club, Berllins E.V., Kurfurstendamm 224, 1000 Berlin 15.
Singapore Foreign Corr's Assn, 41 Duxton Rd. Singapore 0208
Piesse CIub Munchen, 8000 Munchen 2, Marienplatz 22, Germany.
THAILAND
HOLLAND
23lF, Dusit Thani Hotel, 946 Bama lV Road, Bangkok 10500,
re-
straint, members pledge themselves
ager, Hongkong and Shanghai Banking
Commission for lndia. Jonathan Knight, Managing Director, Gardner Merchants (HK) Ltd. Susan Liang, Senior Partner,
The Foreign Press Asso , 11 Carlton House Terrace, London SWl Y 5AJ.
NY 10017, USA
main common currency between na-
lnternational Committee of the Red Cross. Nick Winsor, Assistant Man-
Basuray Chaudhuri, First Secretary,
Omaha Press Club, 2200 One First National Centre, Nebraska 68 1 02, Omaha.
310 Madison Ave., Suite 2'l 1 6, New York,
oppose any form of suppression of freedom of expression in the country and community to which they belong , as well as throughout the world wherever this is possible. PEN declares for
John Borland, Managing Director, Melchers (HK) Ltd. Patrick Chalmers, Director Asia,BBC World Service TV.
RECIPROCAL CLUBS
National Press Club, 14th Street N.W., Washington, DC 20045, lel: (202) 662-7500
* Literature, national though it be in origin, knows no frontiers, and should re-
M/S Susan Liang & Co. Lucia Maruri, Consul General, Uruguay. Thomas Mat-
Jackoboice, Business Reporter, luVrndow. llonaToth, Food and Wine Writer,
AMERICA
A world association of writers
editor, The Standard. George
Darwin Press Club, Cavenagh St., Darwin. Sydney Journalist Club 36/40 Chalmers St., Sydney, NSW 2000. Bugby Club Rugby Union House, Crane Place, Off 314 Pitt St., Sydney, NSW 2000.
SINGAPOBE
FCC Thailand,
Nieuwspoort lnternational, Press Centre, Hofsingel 1 2, The Hague,
THE CORRESPONDENT JUNE
1992
31