Red Cross Society of China
| File:Rcsoc-logo.gif | |
| Company type | Non-profit organization |
|---|---|
| Industry | Health |
| Founded | March 10, 1904 |
| Headquarters | , |
| Products | Humanitarian aid |
| Revenue | US$23 million (Donations)[1] |
Number of employees | 7,774 (2007)  |
| Website | http://202.108.59.10/english/index.htm |
The Red Cross Society of China (中国红十字会) is the national Red Cross Society in the People's Republic of China. The Red Cross Society of China was founded as the "Shanghai International Red Cross Committee" on March 10th, 1904. In 1907, the Committee was renamed "Ta Ch'ing" (Qing Empire) Red Cross Committee.[2]
The ICRC recognized the Red Cross Society of China in 1912 after the establishment of the Republic of China. The Red Cross Society of China formally joined the International Federation in 1919 and was one of the first members. In 1933, as Japanese aggression progressed, the Act of Administrative Rules and Procedures of the Republic of China Red Cross Society (中華民國紅十字會管理條例施行細則) was passed, and the society was renamed Red Cross Society of the Republic of China.
The Society's leadership from the 1920s-1940s was closely tied with the American and British Red Cross societies, the Kuomintang government and the Shanghai business community. The society's president, Zhuang Dezhi was a close associate of Shanghai bankers like K.P. Chen. The Red Cross was naturally very active during the Sino-Japanese War, though its operations were mostly limited to the Kuomintang strongholds in southwest China and some areas under Japanese occupation. Invaluable medical supplies from the U.S. and U.K. were transfered to the Chinese Red Cross Society by their American and British counterparts, through Burma and India. Overseas Chinese from Southeast Asia and around the world also raised funds for the ROC Red Cross during the Sino-Japanese War, and appeals by Chinese diplomats and advocates around the world convinced the American public to make significant donations to support the Chinese people.
After the establishment of the People's Republic in 1949, the Red Cross Society of China was split, with the Red Cross Society of the Republic of China moving to Taiwan. The Communist Party organized a new Red Cross organization on the mainland, which was admitted to the International Federation in 1950.[3]
In 1993 the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Red Cross Society was passed and now describes the legal relationship of the Red Cross Society and the PRC government.[4]
The Hong Kong Red Cross and the Macau Red Cross became autonomous members of the Red Cross Society of China at their handover to the People's Republic in 1997 and 1999 respectively.[3]
Since the early 1990s, the Red Cross Society of China has negotiated with the Red Cross Society of the Republic of China to negotiate exchanges of individuals, mostly illegal immigrants or fugitives, between both sides of the Taiwan Strait.
In 2007, the RCSC received 165 million yuan, the equivalent of about US$23 million, in donations. Half of this was used for the "The Red Cross Angel" angel program which helps pay for medical treatment of children with leukemia and congenital heart diseases. Just over US$2 million were used for the "All-love education assistance program" program which helps build primary schools, pay for teacher training and supports poor university students. The donations were received from domestic and foreign donors.[1]
References
- ^ a b "China Red Cross Foundation receives 165 mln yuan of donation in 2007 - People's Daily Online". People's Daily Online. Retrieved 2008-01-06.
- ^ "Introduction of the RCSC". Retrieved 2007-12-11.
- ^ a b "Introduction of the RCSC" (PDF) (PDF). Retrieved 2007-12-11.
- ^ "China Marks 8th Anniversary of Red Cross Society Law". Xinhua News Agency. 2001-10-31. Retrieved 2007-12-11.
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External links
- Official English website of the Red Cross Society of China
- Official website of the Red Cross Society of the Republic of China
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