THE HONG KONG BRANCH OF THE ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY 2000/2001 PRESIDENT'S REPORT PRESENTED AT THE 41ST ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
ON FRIDAY 16 MARCH 2001 AT THE HONG KONG CLUB
Only those who take leisurely what the people of the world are busy about
can be busy about what the people of the world take leisurely.
CHANG CHAO
Introduction
This is my fifth President's report. In addition to the first two-and-a-half months of 2001, it covers nine months of 2000 during which we celebrated the 40th Anniversary of the reconstitution of our Branch. The Royal Asiatic Society was founded in London in 1823 by that eminent Sanskrit scholar Henry Thomas Colebrooke. Its Royal Charter was granted the following year. Even in those early times Hong Kong was pretty quick off the mark. A Branch was formed here in 1847 but it lasted only 12 years. In my Report I shall look at some of the things we have achieved during 2000/2001 and make comparisons with earlier years.
Membership
As at 12 March, 2001, total membership stood at 477. This comprised 391 local members and 86 overseas members. After the Council meeting on 26 January 2000, through to 13 March 2001, 100 new members were recruited. During the 1960s and '70s there were few organisations with similar aims to our own. Since then a number have been established. Today they include Asian studies centres in universities, friends of museum groups, various overseas branches of western institutions as well as other Hong Kong societies. While we have splendid relationships with our sister institutions some competition has naturally been generated. This is healthy. Nonetheless, in the 1960s
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THE HONG KONG BRANCH OF THE ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY 2000/2001 PRESIDENT'S REPORT PRESENTED AT THE 41ST ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
ON FRIDAY 16 MARCH 2001 AT THE HONG KONG CLUB
Only those who take leisurely what the people of the world are busy about
can be busy about what the people of the world take leisurely.
CHANG CHAO
Introduction
This is my fifth President's report. In addition to the first two-and- a-half months of 2001, it covers nine months of 2000 during which we celebrated the 40th Anniversary of the reconstitution of our Branch. The Royal Asiatic Society was founded in London in 1823 by that eminent Sanskrit scholar Henry Thomas Colebrooke. Its Royal Charter was granted the following year. Even in those early times Hong Kong was pretty quick off the mark. A Branch was formed here in 1847 but it lasted only 12 years. In my Report I shall look at some of the things we have achieved during 2000/2001 and make comparisons with earlier years.
Membership
As at 12 March, 2001, total membership stood at 477. This comprised 391 local members and 86 overseas members. After the Council meeting on 26 January 2000, through to 13 March 2001, 100 new members were recruited. During the 1960s and '70s there were few organisations with similar aims to our own. Since then a number have been established. Today they include Asian studies centres in universities, friends of museum groups, various overseas branches of western institutions as well as other Hong Kong societies. While we have splendid relationships with our sister institutions some competition has naturally been generated. This is healthy. Nonetheless, in the 1960s
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