Date: Thu, 17 Sep 1998 12:31:12 +0800 (HKT)
From: Amy Chi <lcamychi@uxmail.ust.hk>

ASIALEX
Newsletter 3 June 1998

The First ASIALEX Regional Symposium

We are happy to announce that the First ASIALEX Regional Symposium will be held at the Guangdong University of Foreign Studies in PR China from 14^th to 16^th January 1999. Since the major objective of our Association is to foster scholarly and professional activities in the field of lexicography in Asia, the Symposium is a first step towards achieving this purpose. It is hoped that the Association will be able to hold symposia on various themes once every two years in various parts of Asia in the future. The Organising Committee of the Symposium has invited several distinguished scholars in the field to be plenary speakers and so far, we are happy to announce that Mr Anthony Cowie (UK), Editor of the International Journal of Lexicography, and Cao Xianzhu (PRC), President of Chinese Association for Lexicography, have accepted our invitation.

For details of the Symposium, please refer to the information sheets attached. Please pass on the information to colleagues who may be interested in joining the event. Should you require more information, you may either contact the Secretary or Mr Zhang Yihua (please refer to the information sheets for their respective addresses).

Lexicographical events in the region

Spotlight: Japan

There has been much lexicographical research work on going in Japan. Our member Minoru Murata of Chiba University, has informed us of the latest events taking place in that country. The following is a summary of his report.

The Japan Association of College English Teachers (JACET) Study Group on English lexicography organised a dictionary workshop at Kyoto in December, 1997, which drew together almost all the researchers in the field in Japan. There were 160 participants at the event, and altogether 40 presentations.

Another research meeting of the Group was held at Waseda University on 27^th March, 1998. A symposium will be held at JACET Convention in Okayama on 11^th September, 1998 on the theme "Learners' dictionaries and examples". There will also be a workshop at Waseda University on 5^th December on English dictionaries, especially learners' dictionaries. At the AILA Convention in 1999, two symposia and one poster session will be given by the JACET Study Group on English Lexicography.

If any member is interested in knowing more about lexicography in Japan or the JACET Study Group on English Lexicography, you may contact Professor Murata at

Postal address: The Study Group on English Lexicography
The Japan Association of College English Teachers (JACET)
4-9-5, Natsumi,
Funabashi-shi 273
Japan
E-mail: CZD02546@niftyserve.or.jp
Fax: 043-23-5475

Financial Report from the Treasurer

I am pleased to report that the financial health of your Association is in excellent condition, in contrast to many of our governments. This is obvious: we have neither external nor internal debt; and most important of all, the Hong Kong currency, in which the bank account is denominated, is still pegged to the greenback.

You may wonder why it has taken so long to give you a preview of the Association's financial status. Indeed, we encountered a few operational problems before we came to this stage. Firstly, it was not until 22^nd April, 1998 that we opened a bank account. We had to register our Association, which was achieved thanks to Amy Chi's hard work and patience. Secondly, we had to meet with Professor Huang, the President, who lives in Guangzhou, three hours' train ride from the Special Administrative Zone of Hong Kong. It took quite a while before we could get all the paperwork completed.

Owing to this delay, the bank notes and personal cheques were wrapped in a brown bag in my desk drawer for a few months. The end result is that several of the cheques had expired (6 months after they were dated) when they were presented to the bank. Therefore, Ms Chi will be returning those to respective members for substitutes.

In view of the complexity of the banking transactions related to the collection of the annual membership dues, I have a few suggestions for the upcoming General Assembly to consider:

1) The current method of membership dues collection is time-consuming and costly, as bank charges on foreign exchange and collection transactions may be more than the payment itself. (The current membership dues: US$13 for members, with students paying half and institutions twice this amount may have to be reconsidered. The alternative is a life membership, thus saving time and money.)

2) Payment by bank draft and US dollars only.

The Association has received HK$5,649.44 in total, while total expenditure for the period ending 15/05/1998 amounted to HK$247.04 (HK$100 bank charges with the remainder being stationery, postage and communication expenses). The remaining difference is cash at hand of HK$5,402.40, of which HK$5,242.40 is deposited with Hang Seng Bank, a subsidiary of the Hongkong & Shanghai Banking Corporation.

Steven K. Luk 12th May, 1998

Membership

Going on-line

The Secretary would like to seek permission from all members to post the membership file on the Web and to distribute the existing hard copies to companies or institutions for publicity and sponsorship. Should you NOT want your personal details to be included, please write before 1st August 1998. If you have not written to us by that date, it will be taken as permission granted.

Renewal

The membership fee will be due on 30th June, 1998. This should be paid either by remittance or cheque to the following account:

Hang Seng Bank:
  account holder:ASIALEX (in capital letters)
    account number:361 046667 001
  branch address:Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
   Clear Water Bay 
    Kowloon, Hong Kong

Personal membership shall be that of an individual
HK$100 (US$13)
Student membership shall be that of any individual enrolled as a full-time student in a tertiary institution
HK$50 (US$6.5)
Institutional membership shall be that of an institution, e.g. an academic centre or publishing house
HK200 (US$26)

Note: Cheques can only be accepted in Hong Kong dollars or U.S. dollars. Should you pay in U.S. dollars, please include a US$5 handling fee to the total amount.

Some members have asked whether they can pay by credit card. We have checked with our bank and have been informed that it is possible, but that we have to pay a large annual fee and a service charge for each payment. At the moment, the Association is not able to afford the cost; hence, with regret, we can accept membership fees only by remittance or bank cheque. The Executive Committee may propose introducing individual and corporate life memberships at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting.

Members in PR China can send their fees to our President at Guangdong University of Foreign Studies. Please indicate clearly that the money is for membership renewal. Members who will be attending EURALEX in Belgium in August can pay their fees directly to the Secretary who will be there.

New membership

Membership is open to all interested in furthering the objectives of the Association, which are to promote lexicography of and in Asia. If you wish to become a member, or want to know more about ASIALEX, please contact the Secretary, Amy Chi, at LCAMYCHI@USTHK.UST.HK or by mail: c/o Language Centre Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Clear Water Bay Kowloon, Hong Kong

The official stamp of ASIALEX

The Committee has prepared and authorised an official stamp (see sample below) for the Association, to be used on all legal and official documents of the Association from now on.

ASIALEX Newsletter 3 June 1998