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embark on more self-management in preparation for 1997, is that the people of Guangdong (if our New Territories are anything to go by) are absolutely 100% suited to this by reason of their capacity for it, demonstrated for centuries in the villages here and across the way. We are on to a good thing, I would think!
—
JH In drawing these proceedings to a close, perhaps I should add that this work does spill over into the urban area. Elizabeth [Sinn] and Patrick have been able to galvanize — that is probably the right word — the Tung Wah Hospital to do something about its records. The Po Leung Kuk is also now doing something to preserve its records. Indeed, today the SCMP has a very interesting photograph of the new lady chairman of the Kuk, Mrs. Lee, looking over her records.
I should not forget to mention the work of the Hong Kong Museum of History which, David has said, is going to have an exhibition of historical inscriptions and is going to publish them too. They were going to do it last year, but realised that if they do it badly, all the scholars of Hong Kong will jump on them, particularly the elderly experienced Chinese scholars, and so they are being very cautious and rightly so. The exhibition will be held this year and perhaps even next, but no matter. They do give us a great deal of support, and we are very fortunate in this.
Also, I don't think we should hit the Universities too hard, because one can't expect everyone to be interested in local history. The important thing is that they get to know what we are doing and give us support, and that the institutions themselves become more broad-minded about what may be local history but in fact has a much wider contest and larger implications than the term "local history" would suggest. That's what we want from the Universities.
Revd Carl Smith But the University of Hong Kong has just cancelled its proposed lectureship in Hong Kong Studies. This, I believe, indicates how much it really cares for ‘local history'.
JH — Yes, so I hear, and it is regrettable and short-sighted if true.
Finally, ladies and gentlemen, thank you all for coming to us tonight.
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embark on more self-management in preparation for 1997, is that the people of Guangdong (if our New Territories are anything to go by) are absolutely 100% suited to this by reason of their capacity for it, demonstrated for centuries in the villages here and across the way. We are on to a good thing, I would think!
—
JH In drawing these proceedings to a close, perhaps I should add that this work does spill over into the urban area. Elizabeth [Sinn] and Patrick have been able to galvanize that is probably the right word the Tung Wah Hospital to do something about its records. The Po Leung Kuk is also now doing something to preserve its records. Indeed, today the SCMP has a very interest- ing photograph of the new lady chairman of the Kuk, Mrs. Lee, looking over her records.
I should not forget to mention the work of the Hong Kong Museum of History which, David has said, is going to have an exhibition of historical inscriptions and is going to publish them too. They were going to do it last year, but realised that if they do it badly, all the scholars of Hong Kong will jump on them, particu- larly the elderly experienced Chinese scholars, and so they are being very cautious and rightly so. The exhibition will be held this year and perhaps even next, but no matter. They do give us a great deal of support, and we are very fortunate in this.
Also, I don't think we should hit the Universities too hard, because one can't expect everyone to be interested in local history. The important thing is that they get to know what we are doing and give us support, and that the institutions themselves become more broad minded about what may be local history but in fact has a much wider contest and larger implications than the term "local history" would suggest. That's what we want from the Uni- versities.
Revd Carl Smith But the University of Hong Kong has just cancelled its proposed lectureship in Hong Kong Studies. This, I believe, indicates how much it really cares for ‘local history'.
JH - Yes, so I hear, and it is regrettable and shortsighted if true.
Finally, ladies and gentlemen, thank you all for coming atous tonight.
!
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