[
    {
        "id": 213419,
        "series_id": 26,
        "series_slug": "histsyn-rashkb-journal-engine",
        "series_title": "RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊",
        "series_use_hku_proxy": false,
        "document_key": "RAS-1995",
        "page_number": 15,
        "title": "RAS-1995",
        "content_text": "particular attention and that was the three and a half months photographic exhibition which was put on by the Society in conjunction with the very helpful Antiquities and Monuments Office. This exhibition, covering many aspects of Hong Kong history with a fine array of photographs from the Society's archives and other sources, ran for three months. It attracted a great deal of publicity in the Chinese and English press, radio programmes and United Press International also beamed a release around the world, not just about the exhibition but also about heritage and local history in Hong Kong in general. I would like to thank the staff of the Recreation and Culture Department of the Hong Kong Government, and particularly its Secretary, Mr. T.H. Chau, for making this all possible, those who lent photographs for the exhibition, Mrs. S. McGrady, Mr. Colin Gimson, Mrs. P. Alway, Mr. Brian Pearce and Mrs. Elaine Marden, and even more particularly Dr. Dan Waters. Without Dan's drive and enthusiasm it is doubtful if the Exhibition would ever have got off the ground, but it did and we owe him a huge vote of thanks.\n\nThe Exhibition was such a great success that we do hope that it will be possible to run similar events.\n\nI have dwelt for sometime on the activities of the Society deservedly so since they play a very important and prominent part in the Society's affairs. However there are other activity areas which are important for us to note and acknowledge. Firstly there is the library. Under the capable guidance of Ms. Julia Chan, our Librarian, it continues to flourish: she will report separately to you. Secondly, there is the administration of our finances, by our Treasurer, Mr. Robert Nield; he will be reporting to you separately later in detail. However, well as the finances are run, and they are in a sound position, even he cannot manufacture income from nothing and escape from the ravages of inflation. Subscription rates have not been raised since 1993 and you will note therefore that we are recommending a rise in rates with effect from 1 January 1997.\n\nLastly I would like to convey our thanks to those who keep this very interesting Society together, to all Council members, particularly to the two Vice-Presidents, Reverend Carl Smith and Dr. Elizabeth Sinn; Mrs. Anita Wilson for co-ordinating the all important Newsletter and last but not least our Assistant Secretary, Mrs. Claire Hockaday.\n\nXIV\n\nPage 15\n\nPage 16",
        "txt_file_path": "txt/dfo323lmgvd/RAS-1995.txt",
        "external_url": "https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/95941j25g",
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    },
    {
        "id": 213652,
        "series_id": 26,
        "series_slug": "histsyn-rashkb-journal-engine",
        "series_title": "RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊",
        "series_use_hku_proxy": false,
        "document_key": "RAS-1996",
        "page_number": 5,
        "title": "RAS-1996",
        "content_text": "The Hong Kong Branch\n\nof the\n\nRoyal Asiatic Society\n\nPatron\n\nChristopher Patten Governor of Hong Kong\n\nThe Council, 1996-97\n\nPresident\n\nD.A. Gilkes, M.A., C.A., J.P. (until October, 1996) D.D. Waters, I.S.O., M.Phil., Ph.D., Dip. IET., F.C.I.O.B., F.B.I.M. (Acting until March, 1997)\n\nVice-presidents\n\nCarl T. Smith, B.A., M.Div.\n\nElizabeth Sinn, B.A., M.Phil., Ph.D.\n\nHon. Secretary\n\nDavid St. Maur Sheil (until November, 1996) Claire Hockaday (acting until March, 1997)\n\nHon. Treasurer\n\nRobert Nield, F.C.A., F.H.K.S.A.\n\nHon. Editor\n\nPeter Halliday\n\nHon. Librarian\n\nJulia Chan\n\nCouncillors\n\nPhillip Bruce\n\nMichael Lau, B.A., Dip. Ed., M.A., Ph.D. A.K.K. Siu, B.A., M.A., Ph.D.\n\nAnita Wilson, M.A.\n\nJoseph S.P. Ting, B.A., M.Phil., Ph.D.\n\nP.H. Hase, B.A., Ph.D.\n\nGeoffrey Roper, B.A.\n\niv",
        "txt_file_path": "txt/dfo323lmgvd/RAS-1996.txt",
        "external_url": "https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/3n209j641",
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    },
    {
        "id": 213660,
        "series_id": 26,
        "series_slug": "histsyn-rashkb-journal-engine",
        "series_title": "RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊",
        "series_use_hku_proxy": false,
        "document_key": "RAS-1996",
        "page_number": 13,
        "title": "RAS-1996",
        "content_text": "Numbers are in fact creeping up, albeit slowly. Today, about 19 per cent of our membership, judging by names, are ethnic Chinese. With cross-cultural marriages however, this percentage is probably not entirely accurate.\n\nYour Council also feels a continuing effort should be made to recruit more student members, especially promising young scholars.\n\nPublications\n\nProgress has been made with the publishing of journals. Volumes 31 and 32 came off the presses in 1996, volume 33 was published in early 1997 and volume 34 should be out in two or three weeks' time. Our journals have long been held in high regard both by teaching and research institutions around the world and also by a more discerning reading public. We are now trying to improve our marketing techniques so we can sell more copies.\n\nAfter the successful publication of Beyond the Metropolis: Villages in Hong Kong, in early 1996 we have started to press ahead with a companion volume about Yau Ma Tei called, In the Heart of the Metropolis. This is being prepared by our Branch together with the Cathay Camera Club, a number of whose members are also Royal Asiatic Society members. It is important that a society like ours engages in scholarly projects and we are extremely grateful to Dr Patrick Hase who readily accepted the job of editor and chief project organiser. In the latter capacity he has been ably assisted by Brian Pearce, and now that Brian has left Hong Kong, by Charles Slater.\n\nMany members read our Newsletter avidly and naturally with advancing information technology it is nicely produced. A considerable amount of planning and effort go into each issue and it always manages to meet the deadline. For this significant achievement we have to thank Claire Hockaday and Geoffrey Roper.\n\nActivities\n\nIt has been said 'Good lecturers are a gift from heaven' and certainly\n\nxii",
        "txt_file_path": "txt/dfo323lmgvd/RAS-1996.txt",
        "external_url": "https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/3n209j641",
        "rank": 0
    },
    {
        "id": 213664,
        "series_id": 26,
        "series_slug": "histsyn-rashkb-journal-engine",
        "series_title": "RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊",
        "series_use_hku_proxy": false,
        "document_key": "RAS-1996",
        "page_number": 17,
        "title": "RAS-1996",
        "content_text": "Many have been undersubscribed? The short answer is, the odd one or two. A number of visits have, however, been heavily oversubscribed.\n\nMay I add here that we welcome suggestions and indeed help in running our programme. If you would like to deliver a lecture, lead a visit or help the Society in any way, please let a Council Member know. As you will have noticed, we sometimes ask for help with certain projects in the Newsletter.\n\nA special vote of thanks is due to Geoffrey Roper who holds one of the most demanding posts on the Council, namely that of Activities Committee Chairman. He has been supported on his committee by Vice President the Reverend Carl Smith, Vice President Dr Elizabeth Sinn, Dr Michael Lau, Dr Patrick Hase, Dr Joseph Ting, Mrs Anita Wilson and Mrs Claire Hockaday. The above Councillors have in turn been ably assisted by Mrs Valerie Garrett and Mr Jason Wordie. Several of the above have themselves given lectures or led visits. These usually entail considerable preparation and, in some cases, reconnoissance. Guanxi (connections) are often important. A sincere thank you to everybody who has helped with this programme, including of course all our speakers and anyone who has led a visit. I am sorry we cannot name you all.\n\nLibrary\n\nOur Honorary Librarian is presenting a separate report, but may I add that, over a period of years, we have done our best to build up a collection which includes a number of valuable, Oriental titles. Our library is ensconced in the City Hall. It is looked after by professional librarians employed by the Urban Council. We are grateful for this arrangement.\n\nTalking of books, we were sorry to hear of the passing of one of our past members, Arnold Graham (1905-96), in New Zealand. Confucius is quoted as having said:\n\nThe great mountain must crumble;\n\nThe strong beam must break;\n\nxvi",
        "txt_file_path": "txt/dfo323lmgvd/RAS-1996.txt",
        "external_url": "https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/3n209j641",
        "rank": 0
    },
    {
        "id": 213666,
        "series_id": 26,
        "series_slug": "histsyn-rashkb-journal-engine",
        "series_title": "RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊",
        "series_use_hku_proxy": false,
        "document_key": "RAS-1996",
        "page_number": 19,
        "title": "RAS-1996",
        "content_text": "Venues\n\nWe are grateful to the Urban Council for allowing us to use the City Hall for our jointly organised lectures. The Urban Council gives additional support in the form of publicity. Other lectures have been held at the Antiquities and Monuments office and again we are most grateful. Most of our Council and committee meetings are held in Price Waterhouse's offices. Again a sincere vote of thanks is due.\n\nAcknowledgements\n\nI have already thanked lecturers and Council Members for their help. Both David St. Maur Sheil and Philip Bruce, however, have been compelled to step down from the Council because of competing claims on their time. David served as Honorary Secretary starting in 1993, and Phillip had been a Councillor since 1987. We thank them both for all they have done for our Branch. A special mention must be made here of the contribution that Philip Bruce has made regarding military history, which he has researched and written about extensively.\n\nA further thank you is necessary to Claire Hockaday who, in addition to filling her post as Assistant Secretary where she has set about bringing everything up-to-date, has also in recent months taken on the job of Honorary Secretary. Her efforts are greatly appreciated.\n\nOne thing that we are not looking forward to, however, is saying goodbye to Anita Wilson this summer. Anita started serving on the Council in 1986 and she steps down tonight, although we hope to co-opt her for the next few months. Because she has always been such a willing and efficient Councillor, she will be extremely difficult to replace. We thank her sincerely for all she has done during the past 11 years. We wish her, together with her husband, John, well in their next posting.\n\nWhen I took over as President, one member said to me: 'You are lucky that you have good back up.' I must stress that I do indeed greatly appreciate all the support that I have been given, not only from Council and committee members but also from the membership as a whole.\n\nxviii",
        "txt_file_path": "txt/dfo323lmgvd/RAS-1996.txt",
        "external_url": "https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/3n209j641",
        "rank": 0
    },
    {
        "id": 213935,
        "series_id": 26,
        "series_slug": "histsyn-rashkb-journal-engine",
        "series_title": "RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊",
        "series_use_hku_proxy": false,
        "document_key": "RAS-1997",
        "page_number": 5,
        "title": "RAS-1997",
        "content_text": "The Hong Kong Branch\n\nof the Royal Asiatic Society\n\nThe Council, 1997-98\n\nPresident\n\nD.D. Waters, I.S.O., M.Phil., Ph.D.,\n\nDip. IET., F.C.I.O.B., F.B.I.M.\n\nHon Vice-presidents\n\nCarl T Smith, B.A., M.Div.\n\nVice-presidents\n\nElizabeth Sinn, B.A., M.Phil., Ph.D.\n\nMichael Lau, B.A., Dip. Ed., M.A., Ph.D.\n\nHon. Secretary\n\nPeter Barker, Ph.D\n\nHon. Treasurer\n\nRobert Nield, F.C.A., F.H.K.S.A.\n\nHon. Editor\n\nPeter Halliday\n\nHon. Librarian\n\nJulia Chan\n\nCouncillors\n\nA.K.K. Siu, B.A., M.A., Ph.D.\n\nJoseph S.P. Ting, B.A., M.Phil., Ph.D\n\nP.H. Hase, B.A., Ph.D.\n\nGeoffrey Roper, B.A.\n\nValery Garrett, B.A., Post Grad. Dip. Des.\n\nPeter Rull\n\nChoi Chi-cheung, B.A., M.Phil., D.Litt\n\nAssistant Secretary\n\nClaire Hockaday (until November, 1997)\n\nSarah Parnell (from November, 1997) iv",
        "txt_file_path": "txt/dfo323lmgvd/RAS-1997.txt",
        "external_url": "https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/wp98g7579",
        "rank": 0
    },
    {
        "id": 213945,
        "series_id": 26,
        "series_slug": "histsyn-rashkb-journal-engine",
        "series_title": "RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊",
        "series_use_hku_proxy": false,
        "document_key": "RAS-1997",
        "page_number": 15,
        "title": "RAS-1997",
        "content_text": "Publications\n\nOver the year Peter Halliday, our Honorary Editor, has continued to make progress. During 1997-8, volumes 34 (1994) and 35 (1995) of our Journals have been published. It means if two more Journals can be published over the coming year we have caught up with what was a sizeable backlog. In addition, after special software was prepared by staff at the City Hall Library, Dr Lauren Pfister and his assistants, at the Baptist University, have started work preparing a comprehensive index for all our journals. We are grateful to all of them.\n\nMeanwhile, Dr Patrick Hase has put in considerable time and effort editing chapters submitted by a small number of RAS members complemented by photographs taken by members of the Cathay Camera Club. After Brian Pierce left Hong Kong the leadership of the photographic team for our project was taken over by Charles Slater. The role has now been filled by Ian Masterton. Again we thank everyone for all they have done. Our new book, about Yau Ma Tei which should come out in mid 1998 will form a companion volume to Beyond the Metropolis: Villages in Hong Kong which we published in late 1995.\n\nOur Branch has a large collection of photographs and we are grateful to Tim Ko for working his way through these with the possibility of publishing a selection of them at some stage in the future.\n\nEfforts were made during the year to increase sales of our publications. We have already started targeting academic institutions in North America and community and school libraries in Hong Kong.\n\nOur Newsletter continues to be an important link between the Council and Branch members. We have to thank Claire Hockaday, Sarah Parnell and Geoffrey Roper for preparing this Newsletter, over the past year, which is gradually increasing in size. Our Branch has a number of members among its ranks who are authors and this year, again, some of them have published. Details of these publications have appeared in our Newsletter. We are now prepared to accept advertisements in our Newsletter from outsiders and a schedule of charges has been drawn up.\n\nxiv\n\nPage 15\n\nPage 16",
        "txt_file_path": "txt/dfo323lmgvd/RAS-1997.txt",
        "external_url": "https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/wp98g7579",
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    },
    {
        "id": 213946,
        "series_id": 26,
        "series_slug": "histsyn-rashkb-journal-engine",
        "series_title": "RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊",
        "series_use_hku_proxy": false,
        "document_key": "RAS-1997",
        "page_number": 16,
        "title": "RAS-1997",
        "content_text": "Activities\n\nDuring the year under review 11 lectures, one concert, 13 local visits and three excursions to the China Mainland have been conducted. These covered a wide spectrum of topics and details may be seen in the Appendix attached to this report. Because the list is long I am unable to thank, in this report, all lecturers or persons who have led visits. We do, however, thank them as a group and we are pleased that some of them have accepted our invitations to be with us at this dinner tonight.\n\nA special mention must be made here of the Activities Committee which has met at intervals throughout the year. The members, many of whom have themselves given talks or led groups, comprise the Reverend Carl Smith, Doctors Elizabeth Sinn, Michael Lau, Patrick Hase and Joseph Ting, as well as Valery Garrett and Jason Wordie. During the year the place vacated by Claire Hockaday was filled by Sarah Parnell.\n\nThe Activities Committee, on which our Branch so much depends, chaired by Geoffrey Roper, has done a splendid job and provided a rich, diverse programme of events. We are extremely sorry to see Geoffrey Roper step down as Chairman of the Activities Committee. He has put in countless hours leading our activities team. We thank him and the members of his committee most sincerely.\n\nLibrary and Finance\n\nBoth our Honorary Librarian and our Honorary Treasurer will present their own reports later this evening. I thank both of them for the special expertise that they bring to our Council. We must also thank the City Hall Library, which comes under the Urban Council. Our RASHKB library is on permanent loan to the City Hall. There our books may be borrowed not only by RAS members but also referred to by the general public. It is hoped that, as well as serving as a paradise for bibliophiles, our library provides a bridge of understanding between our Branch and the community. Because many of our titles are valuable it has been decided that no book published before the year 1900 may be removed from the RAS library.\n\nXV",
        "txt_file_path": "txt/dfo323lmgvd/RAS-1997.txt",
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    },
    {
        "id": 213951,
        "series_id": 26,
        "series_slug": "histsyn-rashkb-journal-engine",
        "series_title": "RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊",
        "series_use_hku_proxy": false,
        "document_key": "RAS-1997",
        "page_number": 21,
        "title": "RAS-1997",
        "content_text": "Acknowledgements\n\nOne has only to read a President's Report for one of the years during the 1960s, or even more recently, to realise how our Branch has, in some ways, changed. It is important that we as members keep our ears to the ground and move with the times. It is important with a Society as rich in history as the RAS, with our Branch being reconstituted (in 1959) a year or so after sedan chairs disappeared from Wyndham Street (where they awaited customers), that we do not change for the sake of change. At the moment things appear to be working well. Time will reveal what further alterations are necessary. But it is important that, as our American friends say, 'If it ain't dysfunctional don't fix it'.\n\nMuch of the success of our Society is achieved by small efforts repeated day in and day out by Branch members working as a team. Here we must also not forget Claire Hockaday who did a splendid job as Assistant Secretary. After she returned to England, in late 1997, her post was filled by Sarah Parnell who soon demonstrated that she has her own special expertise and enthusiasm to bring to bear.\n\nMay I say here how grateful I am to everyone who has spent time and laboured for the Branch or who has supported me over the past year. On an occasion like this it is not easy to think of all the persons one should thank and to thank them adequately. If I have missed anyone I crave your indulgence.\n\nConclusions\n\nAs I mentioned earlier a number of our members have now left Hong Kong. We appreciate there is a great deal to do at such times with packing and other chores, but, if you are leaving in the near future, it would be appreciated if you could let us know. We can then update our records.\n\nOver the past year some members have written to say how much they appreciated being members of the RASHKB. For example Anita Wilson wrote,\n\nXX",
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    }
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