THE FIRST FUNCTION OF THE
HONG KONG SOCIETY OF ARCHITECTS
Forty-eight people attended the 1) To promote the appreciation in first function of the Hong Kong So- ciety of Architects, an informal gathering to welcome Mr. S.E.T. Cus- din and his wife, which was held on the evening of Monday. 8th October on the top floor of the Wing On Life Building.
After the very enjoyable Chinese dinner. Mr. Cusdin addressed the members and their guests on his ex- periences of the affairs of an Archi- tectural Society. The President, Mr. G. D. Su, in introducing the speaker said that he is a member of the London firm of Easton & Robertson, the architects of the New Kowloon Hospital, and a Past-President of the London Architectural Association. He
Hong Kong of the Art, Science and Practice of Architecture. This could best be done through the medium of the local press, by taking advantage of every opportunity of addressing Rotary Clubs. the Chambers of Com- merce and other civic and public or- ganizations, and by articles of a gen- eral and technical nature through whatever mediums were available.
to
connection with important local buildings.
4) To provide an atmosphere in which architects can exchange ideas. and establish the recognition of the Society as a body representing the opinion of its members.
5) To encourage education in Ar- chitecture. The Faculty of Architec- ture of the University of Hong Kong is the primary source of undergra- duate education, and naturally plays an important part in this matter. It should, however, be a function of the Society to encourage Post Graduate Courses and Scholarships of a more specialised nature. the financial sup- port for which could be obtained from such sources as the larger firms supplying building materials.
6) To keep the rules of the Society under review with the idea that its constitution can be amended to in- clude recognition as an Allied Society of the R.I.B.A., and also as an ex- amining body of the Institute, and a body capable of representing the members on all professional matters
Finally he stated that he had pur- posely avoided the purely profession- al aspects of the work of the Society. and his reason for doing so was a deep conviction that until the So- ciety had won the respect and con- fidence of the Government and the people of Hong Kong, as capable of representing the corporate views of its members. and until it had con- vinced the public (not a few chosen contribute were for the well-being of individuals) that the services it could the community, its best intentions would in all probability be sabotaged by criticisms that it was imposing a restrictive monopoly.
2) To circulate information members, to hold meetings on mat- ters of interest to architects. It was the duty of every architect to keep himself informed of the latest de velopments in their profession, and there was a mass of information available from British. American and Hong Kong as a community was Continental sources. Of particular proud of its name for private enter- said that the local Society was par- liaison with the Building Research the more sensitive to restrictions and importance in this connection was a prise and it was therefore so much ticularly fortunate in having the Station, and discussions benefit of Mr. Cusdin's experience at members on the bulletins issued by tecting only its members without
amongst resentful of any professionalism pro- the very outset of its formation.
this well known Institute.
compensating benefit.
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Mr. Cusdin commenced his address 3) To hold exhibitions of works In concluding his address, Mr. Cus- by emphasizing the importance of of Architecture. No occasion should din left, as a suggestion for the So- unity within the organization. He be neglected to bring to the atten- ciety's motto, a paraphrase of that of said that no matter how highly in- tion of the public, models, working the A.A. "Design Imaginatively, dividual we may be as architects. we drawings and other technical data in Build Wisely".
must all make contributions and sacrifices in order to enjoy the bene- fits of a corporate society. It is just no good leaving it to the other fel- low, and like marriage. in wedding ourselves to our Mistress Art, we must be prepared to submit ourselves to some form of discipline. Perhaps the best advice that he could give to members is not to criticise the work of the council outside the So- ciety, but to seek to put any disagree- ment right within.
He then took up the main theme of his address. He said that it would be impertinent to comment on other than the excellence of the recently published constitution, but the door was left open for him to suggest a few headings of possible aims and objectives. They were:--
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