7 presumed resigned as we have no information—among this number seven members notices were returned address unknown. Thirteen local members failed to pay their 1977 subscription and 4 overseas members paid no subscription. Nine members are still paying only $30. Might I again urge you to please let us know if you are leaving Hong Kong for good, and at the same time if you would like to become overseas members? This means you continue to receive our Journal which at present day prices in the book world is, I think you must agree, good value for the money. Will you also please let us know of any change of address? Even if you are close personal friends with any of the Council members know of your change of address persons who this information does not get automatically fed into our records.
It is necessary for us to be formally informed of any change this also applies to leaving for good. Could anyone who has not altered their Banker's Order to the new subscription rate also please do so now?
We are always very ready to welcome new members and have recently sent out to all of you a membership form which you might want to give a friend who is interested in our activities. The more members we have the more we are in a financial position to provide, so please bear this in mind when you discover that somebody you know is interested in the sort of things we do as a Society.
Deaths
During the year we heard with great sorrow of the death of a past President. Sir Lindsay Ride was President from 1970-71 and RAS had long been our sponsor for use of a lecture room at the Hong Kong Club. Members of your Council attended Sir Lindsay's funeral and a wreath was sent in the name of the Society. The Society is also planning to contribute to the cost of a memorial plaque to be placed in the old English cemetery in Macau. Most of you will know that Sir Lindsay devoted much time and effort to preserving this cemetery, himself with his wife cleaning the old grave-stones and cutting down grass. Another much regretted death was that of M. Geoffroy-Dechaume, formerly French Consul General in Hong Kong, who was member of our Council from 1974-76 when he left Hong Kong for Burma. It was with much regret that we learnt of his death in a tragic accident while holidaying in that country.