[
    {
        "id": 213358,
        "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-1994",
        "page_number": 180,
        "title": "RAS-1994",
        "content_text": "163\n\nProblems\n\nSo far I have been dwelling mostly on the progress of the study of local history, but that is not to imply that there are no problems.\n\nThe truth is, there is still a lot of local history waiting to be done urgently. There are villages, streets, institutions, trades, interesting and significant personalities that are hardly documented. There are archives to be discovered, records to be catalogued and indexed, folk tales and personal accounts to be recorded. There are myths to be debunked. In face of rapid urbanization and large-scale emigration — and always, old people dying — we are losing materials at an alarming rate.\n\nUnlike most other places, Hong Kong's problem is not money. In fact, there is now ready money offered to fund research. The budget for the new Museum of History is HK$580 million (approx. US$74m) and for the Heritage Museum, HK$772 million (approx. US$98m), so there will be plenty to pay for research. Academics can, moreover, apply for funds from the University Grants Committee which seems to favour projects related to Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Jockey Club has been a consistent donor to projects related to heritage, and other local bodies such as District Boards have funded publications. In addition, there is the Wilson Heritage Trust Fund, named after the former governor Lord Wilson of Tillyorn and set up in 1992 to promote the preservation and conservation of Hong Kong's human heritage. To date, it has funded television programmes, conferences, student projects and a wide range of other activities.\n\nThe problem is not so much money as manpower. Some of the pioneers of local history such as Barbara Ward and Lo Hsiang-lin have passed away. A number of experienced scholars have retired and emigrated, or have left Hong Kong universities to teach elsewhere. In a way, this is not a total loss, for David Faure and Bernard Luk are actually taking Hong Kong studies to Oxford and Toronto where they now teach. But the fact is that they are not here and can no longer supervise the kind of fieldwork they did in the late 1970s and early 1980s.\n\nThe sudden surge in demand for researchers created by the rapid expansion of the Museums and the Antiquities and Monuments Office both highlights and aggravates the problem of manpower shortage. One obvious example is while the AMO has been granted a donation of\n\nPage 180\n\nPage 181",
        "txt_file_path": "txt/dfo323lmgvd/RAS-1994.txt",
        "external_url": "https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/zk522640g",
        "rank": 0
    },
    {
        "id": 213942,
        "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": 12,
        "title": "RAS-1997",
        "content_text": "1997-98 PRESIDENT'S REPORT ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY HONG KONG BRANCH PRESENTED AT THE 38TH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING FRIDAY 27 MARCH 1998\n\nThe year under review, from 26 March, 1997 to March 27, 1998 (from AGM to AGM), was a unique and historic period in that it spanned the Handover of the Territory from Britain to China.\n\nAs a direct result, what has changed? The short answer is, very little. To echo Mr Tung Chee-hwa's own words: 'It is (for our Branch) business as usual'. Neither the world nor Hong Kong, of course, stay still. You will see from this report that developments and changes, often subtle, are taking place, many of which have no connection with the Handover. For example, during the year we completed updating our Constitution. Nevertheless, for our Branch a great deal has happened and it has been a gratifying year.\n\nOne of the direct changes resulting from the Handover is the question of patronage. Previously the Chief Executive—formerly the Governor—has always been our Patron. It came as no real surprise, however, when we received a reply, in answer to our invitation for the new Chief Executive to become our Patron. The pivotal sentence read:\n\n'Mr Tung regrets that he will not be able to accept your request'.\n\nYour Councillors are of divided opinions as to whether having a Patron serves a useful purpose, and, if it does, who should be invited to take up the post. Views of members present here tonight will shortly be sought.\n\nFirst, turning to other matters.\n\nMembership\n\nDuring the past year Lord Wilson of Tillyorn, now living in Scotland, who as Sir David Wilson served as Governor of Hong Kong, graciously accepted our invitation to become an Honorary Member of our Branch. As a Sinologist, when he served in the Territory he\n\nxi",
        "txt_file_path": "txt/dfo323lmgvd/RAS-1997.txt",
        "external_url": "https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/wp98g7579",
        "rank": 0
    },
    {
        "id": 214141,
        "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": 209,
        "title": "RAS-1997",
        "content_text": "181\n\nHONORARY MEMBERS\n\nDAN WATERS\n\nIn September 1997 Lord Wilson of Tillyorn, who as Sir David Wilson served as Governor of Hong Kong from 1987 to 1992, graciously agreed to become an Honorary Member of the Hong Kong Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. As a sinologue, at one stage in his career he worked as editor of the China Quarterly which is published by the School of Oriental and African Studies in London.\n\nPreviously, in September 1997 both Mr David Gilkes, Immediate Past President, and Dr James Hayes, Past President, were made Honorary Members of the Hong Kong branch of the Royal Asiatic Society.\n\nRule 9 of the Constitution reads:\n\nPersons of eminent attainments, rank or situation or persons who have rendered distinguished service towards the attainment of the objects of the Society may be admitted by the Council to be Honorary Members...\n\nDavid Gilkes joined the Branch soon after he arrived in Hong Kong in early 1967 and served for approaching 30 years as an office bearer: as Honorary Treasurer, Vice President and President.\n\nJames Hayes joined the Branch in 1961, and served from 1967 to 1990 as an office bearer. He held such positions as Honorary Editor, Vice President and President. Both David Gilkes and James Hayes devoted considerable time and effort to the furtherance of the work of the Royal Asiatic Society.\n\nWith the addition of the two named above, all past presidents of the Hong Kong Branch, including Dr J.R. Jones the Founding President, Sir Lindsay Ride, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hong Kong from 1949-64, and Dr Marjorie Topley, have now been made Honorary Members.\n\nThe first person to be made an Honorary Member was Sir Robert",
        "txt_file_path": "txt/dfo323lmgvd/RAS-1997.txt",
        "external_url": "https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/wp98g7579",
        "rank": 0
    }
]