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been drawn up covering over 200 sites, of which over half have been photographed. The number of prints in the files approaches 1,000 and an index is in preparation.
The Library
Mr. Rydings has tabled a separate report on the library to which he continues to give his unstinted attention, but I would like to acknowledge here our gratitude to those who have donated books to our collection, and to say that we are always interested in any books relevant to our area and subjects as a Society. During the year—just before Christmas—the library was moved to the Arts Centre and is located in the Members' club room. We hope this move will encourage greater use to be made of our books. The very rare, or otherwise valuable, books are being held for us by Mr. Rydings at the University.
The Arts Centre
Last Annual General Meeting we raised the question of whether or not we should stay in the Arts Centre and you will recall that we had a split vote. As a consequence, we have continued with our association. We hope to have a permanent space on the notice board in the downstairs lobby for our own notices, and we are at present negotiating on the possibility of limited office space. Mr. David Gilkes, our Treasurer and representative on the Arts Centre Committee, attended the opening of the Arts Centre by invitation, and I also attended in another capacity. May I remind you again that if you are members of the Arts Centre and send in your membership card for the Hong Kong Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, we are able to obtain a rebate of $10 a member. This would help us in some degree with our annual payments as a constituent Society member of the Centre.
Membership
Our records show a slight increase in membership over the last financial period. In March 1978 total membership stood at 517. This breaks down to: Hon. members 6, local life members 121; local ordinary members 296; overseas life members 57 and overseas ordinary members 37. During the year there were 25 resignations, mainly of people leaving Hong Kong. Seventeen members must be