# PRESIDENT'S REPORT FOR 1969
This is the tenth statutory Annual General Meeting of the Society but as the First Annual Meeting was held in April 1961 more than a year after its revival in December 1959 the Society is well on its eleventh year of its renewed existence. This is therefore an important milestone in its history. It had been contemplated that it would be fitting to hold a Society dinner to mark the occasion but it has been decided to postpone this celebration until the autumn. Nevertheless I feel happy to present to you to-day the report which shows that the Society is flourishing, is very active and is in a sound financial position. It had, at the end of 1969, 462 members including 69 life members more than 25 over last year in spite of the loss of 28.
The membership of the Society has changed considerably in ten years. In the Council, for instance, there are only two of the original members left - Dr. Marjorie Topley and myself. Together with Mr. (now Professor) Cranmer-Byng we planned in 1959 to revive the Society after an interval of a century. A meeting of thirty interested members was convened at the British Council Centre on 28th December, 1959. The Meeting was a success; the Society was duly constituted, the Rules were approved and an opening meeting was held at the Hong Kong Club when Prince Peter of Greece and Denmark gave a talk illustrated with a colour film on "The Social and Economic Organisation of Tibet". A formal inaugural meeting was held on 7th April, 1960 when Professor F. S. Drake of the University of Hong Kong delivered an address on "The Study of Asia: a Heritage and a Task". It was a memorable address which gave the stamp of learning and authority and set an objective ideal for our efforts.
I may perhaps be forgiven on this tenth anniversary to indulge in a little of the history of the Society for the information of members who have joined since 1959. We have a tradition, and in the words of Professor Drake "a heritage and a task”.
The Royal Asiatic Society is not a new body. Its roots go back to the middle of the 19th Century, especially in India, when societies were formed for the study of the East under the impetus of a greater British interest which was a corollary of expanding
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PRESIDENT'S REPORT FOR 1969
This is the tenth statutory Annual General Meeting of the Society but as the First Annual Meeting was held in April 1961 more than a year after its revival in December 1959 the Society is well on its eleventh year of its renewed existence. This is therefore an important milestone in its history. It had been contemplated that it would be fitting to hold a
a Society dinner to mark the occasion but it has been decided to postpone this celebration until the autumn. Nevertheless I feel happy to present to you to-day the report which shows that the Society is flourishing, is very active and is in a sound financial position. It had, at the end of 1969, 462 members including 69 life members more than 25 over last year in spite of the loss of 28.
The membership of the Society has changed considerably in ten years. In the Council, for instance, there are only two of the original members left - Dr. Marjorie Topley and myself. Together with Mr. (now Professor Cranmer-Byng we planned in 1959 to revive the Society after an interval of a century. A meeting of thirty interested members was convened at the British Council Centre on 28th December, 1969. The Meeting was a success; the Society was duly constituted, the Rules were approved and an opening meeting was held at the Hong Kong Club when Prince Peter of Greece and Denmark gave a talk illustrated with a colour film on "The Social and Economic Organisation of Tibet". A formal inaugural meeting was held on 7th April, 1960 when Professor F. S. Drake of the University of Hong Kong delivered an address on "The Study of Asia: a Heritage and a Task". It was a memorable address which gave the stamp of learning and authority and set an objective ideal for our efforts.
I may perhaps be forgiven on this tenth anniversary to indulge in a little of the history of the Society for the information of members who have joined since 1959. We have a tradition, and in the words of Professor Drake "a heritage and a task”.
The Royal Asiatic Society is not a new body. Its roots go back to the middle of the 19th Century, especially in India, when societies were formed for the study of the East under the impetus of a greater British interest which was a corollary of expanding
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