RAS-1994 — Page 14

unaware of events taking place or going to take place. The make-up of the membership is bound to change and different people will be in charge. Again this is how it should be. The Council has discussed rather intermittently the direction we should be going: it is recognised that we must liaise more effectively with like-minded people who will be in Hong Kong after 1997. We have a very satisfactory relationship with the Urban Council, who are immensely helpful in making their venues available for our lectures and, as I said earlier, house our library. We are reaching out to other societies and in particular to the local historians, and we hope our Council member Anthony Siu will continue to give us support here. But in spite of these developments, I know there are some members who feel that we are not progressing fast enough and that there should be further interaction with all communities. Some members have suggested a change of name, since the word Royal in front of our name may not be in our interest after 1997. I am not sure what the answers to these questions are, but I would like to suggest that the incoming Council look at some of these issues more energetically and see in what direction we should move. And it is not just a question of ideas - it means any ideas have to be practical and implementable.

I have detained you long enough - thank you for listening to me.

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