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time of emergency.
A bomb-proof vault, in which valuable exhibits could be stored, would be worth considering. Uniformity of temperature and humidity would result in a far longer life of the specimens.
2. It is highly desirable that all exhibits, save those not protected, should be housed in scientifically designed, artistic, metal and glass, dust-proof cases.
3. A lecture hall-designed for this purpose with correct acoustic properties— equipped with a first class epidiascope lantern and a cinematograph lantern for the projection of pictures, slides and films of special interest should be included in the building. This room should be built to hold at least 300 persons. If the scheme is in conjunction with a City Hall then such a hall would fuldt this purpose.
4. A smaller room should also be included which could be used by societies for their meetings, e.g., Hong Kong Horticultural Society, Aquarium Society and a Natural History Society (which would certainly be inaugurated). Such a room. should be equipped with henches (with water and electric-fittings) with blackboards (ground glass or concrete) and with a small epidiascope lantern and screen. number of exhibits could also be permanently housed in this room as well.
5. A large preparation room, or two smaller rooms equipped with benches, water, gas and electricity and with a dark room for photographic use, are absolutely essential.
6. A research laboratory for the use of the Curator and visiting scientists is also essential.
7. A small library and reading room open (on conditions) to the public is highly desirable. A great deal of scientific literature could be obtained free and certain journals could be purchased or obtained in exchange for the museum's publications. If this library is contained within the air-conditioned wing the University might consider the housing therein of the more valuable books on Chinese art from the Hankow library. The coloured plates are particularly susceptible to changes in humidity; examples of such books are the volumes of the catalogue of the Eumorfopoulos collection.
8. The rooms, in which the exhibits are to be staged, must be well lit, spacious and attractively furnished. There is an abundance of literature on museum design and furniture so no difficulties should be experienced.
9. We consider that provision should be made for the following rooms :-
2 rooms for prehistory, archaeology and geology.
2 rooms for ethnographic sciences to illustrate racial settlement and
migration.
2 rooms, in addition to a central hall, for Chinese arts to include in parti-
cular porcelains, paintings and bronzes.
1 room devoted to marine biology.
1 room devoted to terrestial biology.
rooms devoted to industries representative of China, e.g., silk, tea,
porcelain and paper.
A minimum total of 10 rooms in addition to a central hall.
IV. MUSEUM.
(a) Reasons for establishment.
It is highly desirable for many reasons that Ilong Kong should possess a museum worthy of its situation.
In the British Empire it is unique in being an island situated at the extreme S.E. corner of Asia and just within the tropics. Its fauna, flora and prehistory
The seas around Hong Kong are of more than ordinary interest for these reasons. 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 :-
C
'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
The Museums Association, 1983, Ceylon, British Malaya, the West Indies, etc.
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 books 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
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