We are especially grateful to Mr. Hugh Gibb for making available to us his magnificent films in which he has recorded so vividly certain ancient rites and customs of the East. These are apt to disappear only too rapidly and we look forward to further contributions from Mr. Gibb's interpretative filming. We are no less appreciative of the outstanding work of Mr. F. A. Nixon and his fine colour slides of the flowers and plants of Hong Kong so ably interpreted to us by Miss Bek-To Chiu. Two series of his slides have been shown in 1961 and 1962; another will be shown in April 1963. This splendid collection now includes about 400 colour slides of such importance that your Council have been giving consideration to the possibility of their publication in a comprehensive and illustrated collection of the flora of Hong Kong. Nothing of equal importance has been produced in the Colony since the appearance of Flora Hongkongensis by George Bentham in 1861. It would be in accord with the tradition of the Hong Kong Branch of the Society, which was responsible for the acquisition for the Colony of the Botanic Gardens, to take advantage of the unique work of Mr. Nixon and Miss Bek-To Chiu to publish a collection worthy of the Colony. The enterprise, however, would be costly and could be undertaken only if funds could be found for the purpose. We would commend this project to the friends of the Society and of the Colony both here and abroad.
The first two volumes of the Journal of the Society, produced by the Editorial Board under the able leadership of Mr. Cranmer-Byng, have maintained a high standard of scholarship and of interest. They have already gained a standing amongst the Journals of other learned societies in different parts of the world and are likely to be in increasing demand both in exchange for similar journals and for outright purchase. The receipts for the sale of journals last year amounted to $911.75 but as they are getting better known it is likely that stocks of back numbers will gradually be sold and those left will correspondingly be of greater value. The Journal is now on sale at HK$12 or US$2.50 or 16/- sterling. Members who now receive a free copy for their annual subscription of $20 are receiving good value for their money.