are of more than ordinary interest for these reasons. The seas around Hong Kong are unusually rich in seaweeds of many kinds and already from local waters several hundred species of fish have been identified. Again, owing to its geographical posi- tion, the Colony is on the line of autumn and spring migrations of fishes and birds. The snakes are of especial interest because in their numbers are both tropical and temperate forms. The flora is tropical but the Colony forms almost the extreme north- eastern limit of the distribution of many of its plants.
Hong Kong, as a Colony, is also unique in the British Empire in not possessing a museum or art gallery. Reference to this fact is made in no uncertain terms by the Museums Association in their Empire survey carried out at the request of the Carnegie Corporation of New York:-
Hong Kong, in fact, represents the low-water mark in museum provision throughout the whole of the Empire, excepting only the smaller islands of the Pacific and some of the more backward African territories." Report on the Museums of Ceylon, British Malaya, the West Indies, etc. The Museums Association, 1933, p. 8. On pages 20 & 21 in this same report, the Museum situation in Hong Kong is discussed in further detail: See Appendix I,
We consider that the present time is appropriate for the removal of this stigma.
The Colony, being geographically part of China and situated in the track of racial migrations in proto-historic times, has unique advantages for the study of the origins - and development of Chinese culture in many of its aspects.
The Chinese Government has spent large sums on the establishment of museums and libraries in Peiping, Kaifoeng, Nanking, Shanghai and in many other cities, which in design and management follow those of Europe and America. This fact, coupled with the wealth of material available, provides an ample reason for the establishment of a museum which at the least should be on a level with the standard attained in China.
A museum, such as is envisaged in this report, would form a link between the Universities and Museums of the Empire and those of China and would provide facilities for the interchange of students and knowledge between the English and Chinese speaking peoples.
In the Colony, the museum would form a centre for discussion, research and education, and a means for the widening of outlook of both school-children and the general public.
(b) Objects of Establishment of a Museum.
The objects of the museum should be
1. The collection, study, classification, arrangement and display of material of scientific, historic, artistic and economic interest to the Colony of Hong Kong and to the country of China.
2. The interpretation of the collections with a view to interesting and educating the public.
This involves not only the artistic display and thorough labelling of specimens but also the giving of lectures on special topics and the writing for publica- tion of both papers and bocks to further the same end.
3. Co-operation with existing Government and Educational Departments with a view to increasing the interest and education of the people in a variety of biological, geological, archaeological and other subjects.
The Museum must, in our opinion, be confined in its scope to Hong Kong and Chinese interest. If this rule is not rigidly adhered to the museum, like its predecessor, will become a repository for odds and ends from every corner of the globe. A general