RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1961 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/vd6724704 Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong Branch RASHKB and author Vol 1 (1961) ISSN 1991-7295 THE HONG KONG BRANCH was resuscitated as the outcome of a meeting attended by some thirty interested persons, held at the British Council Centre on December 28, 1959. The meeting adopted a constitution approved by the parent Society in London, and formed an interim Council to hold office until a General Meeting should be held. The following were elected to the Council:- President: Dr. J. R. Jones; Vice-Presidents: the Hon. Sir Tsun-nin Chau and Dr. L. T. Ride; Hon. Secretary: Mr. J. D. Duncanson; Hon. Treasurer: Mr. T. J. Lindsay; Hon. Editor of the Journal: Mr. J. L. Cranmer-Byng; other Councillors: Dr. Marjorie Topley and Messrs. James Liu, Holmes Welch, and G. B. Endacott. The Inaugural Meeting of the revived Branch was held on April 7, 1960, in the Loke Yew Hall of Hong Kong University. It was to have been presided over by H.E. the Governor, Sir Robert Black, K.C.M.G., O.B.E., had illness not prevented it. The Inaugural Address was delivered by Professor F. S. Drake, Professor of Chinese at Hong Kong University, on "The Study of Asia: a Heritage and a Task”. On January 23, 1961, Sir Robert Black presided over a meeting of the Branch in his capacity as Patron, and thus restored a tradition after a lapse of a hundred years. ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1961 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/vd6724704 Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong Branch RASHKB and author Vol. 1 (1961) ISSN 1991-7295 9 J. D. Duncanson, who had laboured devotedly from the beginning as Hon. Secretary, resigned after the close of the year on his departure from the Colony and we were fortunate in securing as his successor Mr. R. E. Lawry, the Representative of the British Council. The Hon. Editor of the Journal, Mr. Cranmer-Byng, who as Chairman of the Editorial Committee planned the first issue of the Journal, left the Colony on leave in the summer. Since his return he has been obliged owing to ill health to resign his office, but the work in the mean time has been carried on by Mr. James Liu, together with the other members of the Editorial Committee, Dr. Marjorie Topley and Mr. Holmes Welch, who are jointly responsible for this first issue of the Journal. ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1961 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/vd6724704 Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong Branch RASHKB and author 132 TANG Shiu Kin THOMAS, L. F. - THOMPSON, R. W. TOPLEY, Dr. Marjorie TREGEAR, Miss M. TRISTRAM, Mrs. J. TRISTRAM, M. P. W. + + + + - TSEUNG, Dr. F. I. - + - T Vol. 1 (1961) ISSN 1991-7295 The Kowloon Motor Bus Co., Ltd., 505 Pedder Building, H.K. 56 Conduit Road, Flat 103, H.K. Dept. of Modern Languages, H.K.U. 6 Peak Mansions, H.K. H.K.U. P.O. Box 845, H.K. Rating & Valuation Dept., Man Yee Building, 9th fl., Des Voeux Road C., H.K. China Building, 4th f., H.K. TURNER, The Hon. M. W. H.K. & Shanghai Banking Corpn., H.K. VETCH, H. VETCH, Mrs. H. VIO, Dr. E. G. - WALDEN, J. C, C, - WALTON, A. St. G. WARD, Miss J.- + + WARD-MORRIS, Mrs. B. WATSON, K. A. WEI, Dr. Tat. WEISS, K.- WELCH, H. H. WONG, Dr. Man WONG Pao Hsie WONG Po Shang WOO, Dr. Arthur W.. WOO, Dr. Pak Foo WRIGHT, D. A. L. WILSON, B. D. - YAO Pe Chun YAO Hsin Nung + - Hong Kong University Press, H.K. Hong Kong University Press, H.K. 315 H.K. & Shanghai Bank Building, H.K. Establishment Branch, Colonial Secretariat, H.K. Establishment Branch, Colonial Secretariat, H.K. 35 Chater Hall, Conduit Road, H.K, 18 Hillgate Place, London, W.8. Lammert Bros., Pedder Building, H.K. H.K. Anti-Tuberculosis Assn., Queen's Rd. E., H.K. P.O. Box 718, H.K. Shatin, N.T. Room 108, China Building, H.K. Butterfield & Swire, H.K. B-5 Wah Kiu Mansion, 1st fl., 80 Taipo Rd., Kln. Woo Clinic, Edinburgh House, 1st fl., H.K. 204 China Building, H.K. Hong Kong Club, H.K. Urban Services Dept., Secretariat Building, West Wing, H.K. 18, Monmouth Terrace, 3rd f., Kennedy Road, H.K. 1 Dorset Crescent, Kowloon Tong, Kln. Mental Hospital, High Street, H.K, YAP, Dr. Pon Meng YUEN, Miss I. - 4 Radio Hong Kong. ZIGAL, Mrs. I. - - 12 Bowen Road, H.K. ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1962 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/9s166f47f 133 SMITH, Leslie, O.B.E. SMITH, Lloyd A. + SMITH, Stanley Herbert - SOONG, Norman SPERRY, Henry Muhlenberg STANLEY, Major Henry, F. STANTON, William T. STARBIRD, Linwood R. - STENTON, Prof. Harry STOCK, Prof. F. E., O.B.E. - STOKES, John ז J . 23-A, Robinson Road, Hong Kong. 2741, SW 22nd Ave. Coconut Grove, Miami 33, Florida, U.S.A. (Local address: c/o R. S. Fountain, Esq., 309, Prince's Building, H.K.) c/o Messrs. Scott & English Ltd., P. O. Box 1555, H.K. Asia Magazine, 31 Queen's Road, C., H.K. 2, Queen's Road, Central, Hong Kong. Flat 12, Tjibatoe, 9 Plunketts Rd., H.K. Dina House, Duddell St., Hong Kong. c/o American Consulate-General, Garden Rd., H.K. Dept. of Botany, H.K. University, H.K. Hong Kong University. Education Department, Battery Path, H.K. STRICKLAND, Mr. P. G. c/o Caldbeck Macgregor & Co., Ltd. H.K. SWIRE, A. C. TALBOT, Henry D. TANG, Shiu-kin, C.B.E. THOMAS, Louis F. THOMPSON, R. W. TOPLEY, Dr. Marjorie TREGEAR, Miss Mary TRISTRAM, M. P. W. TSEUNG, Dr. F. I. TURNER, The Hon. Sir Michael VETCH, Henri VETCH, Mrs. Henri VIO, Dr. Eric George VISICK, Mrs. Mary WALDEN, J. C. C. WARD, William L. WATSON, K. A. WEI, Dr. Tat, M. A. · c/o Butterfield & Swire, Union House, H.K. Dept. of Geography, H.K. University, H.K. 505, Pedder Building, Hong Kong. 8, King's Park Flats, Kowloon. Dept. of Modern Languages, H.K. University, H.K. 6, Peak Mansions, Hong Kong. Ashmolean Museum, Oxford University, Oxford, U.K. Rating & Valuation Dept., Man Yee Bldg., 9/F., H.K. China Building, 4th floor, Hong Kong. Hong Kong & Shanghai Banking Corpn., London. H.K.U. Press. H.K.U. Press. 315, H.K. & Shanghai Bank Building, H.K. Dept. of English, H.K.U. c/o Commerce & Industry Dept. Fire Brigade Bldg., H.K. Apt. 3, 7 Magazine Gap Road, Hong Kong. c/o Lammert Bros., Pedder Building, H.K. H.K. Anti-Tuberculosis Association, Queen's Rd., E., H.K. ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1963 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/4m90m091v 159 STRICKLAND, Mrs. P. G. c/o Caldbeck Macgregor & Co., Ltd., H.K. SWIRE, A. C. * TALBOT, H. D. TANG, Shiu-kin * THOMAS, L. F. + THOMAS, Dr. O. L. Messrs. Butterfield & Swire, Union House, H.K. Department of Geography, The University, H.K. The Kowloon Motor Bus Co., (1933) Ltd., 505, Pedder Building, H.K. Co-operative Development & Fisheries Department, Li Po Chun Chambers, 11th Floor, H.K. 17, Magnolia Road, Yau Yat Chuen, Kowloon. THOMPSON, Lt. Col. P. H. CRE Hong Kong B.F.P.O.1, H.K. THOMPSON, R. W. - TILL, The V. Rev. B. * - TOPLEY, Dr. Marjorie TREGEAR, Miss M. TRISTRAM, M. P. W. - TSEUNG, Dr. F. I. TURNER, Sir M. * VETCH, H. - VETCH, Mrs. H. VIO, Dr. E. G. VISCHER, Mrs. H. B. VISICK, Mrs. Mary WADDINGTON, Mrs. A. WALDEN, J. C. C. WARD, Miss J. E. A. WARD, W. L. - WARNER, J. M. WATSON, K. A. WEI, Dr. Tat + Dept. of Modern Languages, The University, H.K. The Dean's House, H.K. 6, Peak Mansions, H.K. c/o Ashmolean Museum, Oxford University, Oxford, UK. Rating & Valuation Dept., Murray House, Queen's Road E., H.K. China Building, 4th Floor, H.K. "Whispers" Riversdale, Boume End, Bucks, U.K. c/o H.K. University Press, H.K. c/o H.K. University Press, H.K. 315, H.K. & Shanghai Bank Building, H.K. A-23, Estoril Court, 15 Garden Road, H.K. Department of English, The University, H.K. 9, Middle Gap Road, H.K. c/o Commerce & Industry Department, Fire Brigade Building, H.K. 51, Buxey Lodge, Conduit Road, H.K. Apt. 3, No. 7, Magazine Gap Road, H.K. City Hall, H.K. c/o Lammert Bros., Pedder Building, H.K. H.K. Anti-Tuberculosis Association, Queen's Road, East, H.K. *Life Member Please notify the Hon. Secretary of any inaccuracy ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1964 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/qz20zx09r 168 TALBOT, H. D. TANG, Sir Shiu-kin* THOMAS, L. F. · THOMAS, Dr. O. L. . Dept. of Geography, The University, H.K. Kowloon Motor Bus Co. (1933) Ltd., 505, Pedder Building, H.K. c/o Colonial Secretariat, Lower Albert Road, H.K. Flat 5, "Cliffside", King's Park Rise, Kowloon. THOMPSON, Lt. Col. P. H. CRE, Hong Kong, B.F.P.O.1, H.K. THOMPSON, R. W. THORN, Mrs. R. TILL, The Very Rev. B.* TOPLEY, Dr. Marjorie TOWNER, J. A. TREGEAR, Miss M. TRISTRAM, M. P. W. TSEUNG, Dr. F. I. TURNER, Sir M.* UHALLEY, S. Jr. + VETCH, H. VETCH, Mrs. H. VIO, Dr. E. G. VISCHER, Mrs. H. B. VISICK, Mrs. M. VOGEL, E. F. WALDEN, J. C. C. WAN, Dr. Yik S. WARD, Miss B. E. WARD, Miss J. E, A. - + - - Senior Lecturer in Spanish, Univ. of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad, W.I. 14D, Headland Road, Hong Kong. 3, Mulbury Road, London W.14, England. 19, Peak Mansions, The Peak, H.K. District Office, South, 36 Gascoigne Road, Kowloon. 24 Portland Road, Oxford, England. Valuation Dept., - ► Rating & Building, 9/F., H.K. - - + China Building, 4th floor, H.K. Man Yee "Whispers", Riversdale, Bourne End, Bucks, England. c/o The Asia Foundation, 2 Old Peak Road, H.K. Hong Kong Univ. Press, The University, H.K. As above. 315, H.K. & Shanghai Bank Building, H.K. A-23, Estoril Court, 15 Garden Road, H.K. Dept. of English, The University, H.K. 3A, Marigold Road, 1st floor, Kowloon. c/o Colonial Secretariat, Lower Albert Road, H.K. 2, Hoi Ping Road, Causeway Bay, H.K. c/o Miss Janet E. A. Ward, National Provincial Bank Ltd., Bideford, N. Devon, England. c/o National Provincial Bank Ltd., Bideford, N. Devon, England. • Life Member Please notify the Hon. Secretary of any inaccuracy ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1965 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/s752cj653 20th January 9th March 23rd March 27th April 9/10th May 25th May 22nd June 2nd September 27th October Mr. J. L. Cranmer-Byng, M.C., M.A. "The Macartney Embassy Through Chinese Eyes". Professor J. K. Fairbank "The Western Response to China”, Annual General Meeting Professor F. S. Drake, O.B.E., B.A., B.D., "The Jewish Colony at Kaifeng and its Relation to other Monotheistic Faiths in China”. Symposium on Social Organization of Villages in the New Territories, including visits to villages in the New Territories. Mr. Michael Lau, B.A., PID.ED.(H.K.), M.A.(HARV.) "The Fung Ping Shan Museum”. Dr. Marjorie Topley, B.SC.(ECON.), PH.D. "Some of China's Little Known Religious Sects, and Their Migration Overseas”. Mr. Tom Harrisson, D.S.O., O.B.E., "Living Cultures in the Niah Context of Prehistory". Peter Scott, Esq., C.B.E., D.S.C. "The Conservation of the World's Wild Life and Wilderness”. 16th November Professor Chao Mei-pa, B.A. "A Brief Sketch of Chinese Music", with instrumental illustrations by Dr. C. K. Wong and folksongs by Barbara Fei, Winnie Wei and Lee Bing. Of particular interest was the enthusiasm and the spirit of inquiry that were exemplified in the Symposium held on 9th and 10th May on the Social Organization of Villages in the New Territories which was organized and conducted by Dr. Marjorie Topley and Mr. R. E. Lawry with the active participation of two anthropologists from the University of London and District Officers of the New Territories, whose work had brought them ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1965 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/s752cj653 into close contact with the people of the rural districts of the Colony. The success of these studies proved so encouraging that we have considered it to be a worthy task to follow up and to record in print all that can be recorded now of the traditional aspects of Chinese life which can still be seen in the rural areas of Hong Kong, but which are in danger of dying and vanishing forever. The results of the Symposium, including the substance of the papers read on the first day, have been recorded in a booklet edited by Dr. Marjorie Topley which will be published in a month or two. It will be the first comprehensive sociological study of New Territories organization. We commend this booklet to members and we hope that we can recoup the cost of its printing. We hope to be able to continue this line of study and research and that it might be of assistance to the Committee of the City Hall Museum, who are considering a project for the inclusion in the Museum of exhibits illustrating the ethnography and history of the native peoples of Hong Kong. A particular feature of the Society's work is the production of its Journal and we may justly feel a sense of pride in the vigorous scholarship exemplified in the first three volumes. Owing to a series of unforeseen difficulties, the issue for 1963-64, which should have been published last summer, has been much delayed. Mr. Cranmer-Byng, the Chairman of the Editorial Committee, who had been mainly responsible for the first three volumes left the Colony early in 1964, and Mr. Talbot, who kindly stepped into the breach, was on leave until the late autumn. The printers also had been unable to obtain the special accented type for the romanization of oriental languages which had been ordered in October 1963. The Journal, however, will, we are assured, be out next month. During 1964 the Society suffered serious and regrettable losses. In March, Sir Robert Black, who had been our Patron since the branch was revived, left the Colony. He was not only our Patron but had enrolled as a life member. He had taken an active interest in the Society and both he and Lady Black, in spite of the many calls on their time, attended most of our meetings. In the same month, Mr. Cranmer-Byng left. He took a leading part in the re-establishment of the Hong Kong Branch in 1959; he was a tower of strength on the Council and was the Chairman ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1965 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/s752cj653 141 STOWE, C.- c/o Education Dept., H.K. STRICKLAND, Mrs. P. G. c/o Caldbeck Macgregor & Co., Ltd., Union House, H.K. STUART-JERVIS, Mrs. M. J. 4 Abermor Court, May Road, H.K. SU, Dr. Chung-jen* SU, Ming-hsuan SWIRE, A. C.* TALBOT, H. D. TAN, Khek-seng* TANG, Mrs. M. TANG, Sir Shiu-kin* TARR, A. D. TARWATER, J. W. THOMAS, L. F. THOMAS, Dr. O. L. THOMPSON, R. W. THORN, Mrs. R. TILL, The Very Rev. B.* TISDALL, B. TOPLEY, Dr. Marjorie TOWNER, J. A. TREGEAR, Miss M. TRISTRAM, M. P. W. TSEUNG, Dr. F. I. TURNER, Sir M.* UHALLEY, S. Jr. Evone Court, Flat C, 24 Yik Yam Street, 6th Floor, Happy Valley, H.K. 45 Hankow Road, 9th Fl., Flat C, Kowloon, Messrs. Butterfield & Swire, Union House. H.K. Dept. of Geography & Geology, The University, H.K. 6 Goldsmith Road, Jardine's Lookout, H.K. 7C Bowen Road, Bowen Mansions, Apt., 402, H.K. Room 1701 Central Building, H.K. c/o Butterfield & Swire, Union House, H.K. 3 Old Peak Road, H4, H.K. c/o Colonial Secretariat, Lower Albert Road, H.K. Flat 5, "Cliffside", King's Park Rise, Kowloon. Senior Lecturer in Spanish, Univ. of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad, W.I. 14D, Headland Road, Hong Kong. c/o Morley College, 61 Westminster Bridge Road, London S.E.1, England. Room 404 Hong Kong & Shanghai Bank Building, H.K. 19, Peak Mansions, The Peak, H.K. District Office, South, 36 Gascoigne Road, Kowloon. 24 Portland Road, Oxford, England. Rating & Valuation Dept., Murray House, Garden Road, H.K. China Building, 4th floor, H.K. "Whispers", Riversdale, Bourne End, Bucks, England. c/o The Asia Foundation, 2 Old Peak Road, H.K. * Life Member Please notify the Hon. Secretary of any inaccuracy Page 150 Page 151 ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1966 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/bz60k0811 4 place as Hon. Secretary he kindly introduced Miss Michaeliones, also of the British Council, who consented to take the position and was duly appointed. Mr. Lawry was not only a veritable god-send as Hon. Secretary but has been the mainstay of the Council and the pivot around which the activities of the Society revolve. Without his aid the Society would have found it very difficult to overcome the obstacles which it experienced in the early years. For the first two and a half years of its existence the rooms of the British Council were the Society's home, for, through the generosity of the British Council and the good offices of Mr. Lawry as its Representative, the rooms were placed at the disposal of the Society for its meetings free of charge, together with all their amenities and staff and the services of a projectionist with the necessary equipment for illustrating the lectures. On behalf of the Society I wish to express our deep appreciation to Mr. Lawry and to the British Council and their staff for all they have done and are continuing to do in support of the Society. Mr. Lawry's work was far beyond that of an Honorary Secretary. He has played a major part in building up the Society to its present flourishing position. He was largely responsible for initiating, inspiring and organising various activities of the Society, particularly our very successful excursions including the Macau tour last December and the symposium on the New Territories, which he organised in conjunction with Dr. Marjorie Topley in 1964 and which was one of the Society's most fruitful achievements. As I worked with Mr. Lawry more closely than anyone else, no one knows better than I how much the Council relied and the Society depended on Mr. Lawry and his ever-willing and devoted work. When the time comes I hope we shall have another opportunity to wish him and Mrs. Lawry god-speed and success in his future career. The Hon. Treasurer's Report shows an excess of income over expenditure amounting to $1,915.96. The fact, however, still remains that last year, as in each of the previous years, the income from annual membership subscriptions fell short of the expenditure, though last year the deficit was only about $400, much less than in previous years. The deficit each year has been met from income from a small capital investment and from sundry small sums such as the proceeds of the sale of journals. In order to place the finances of the Society on a surer basis the ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1966 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/bz60k0811 186 STOWE, C.- c/o Education Dept., H.K. STRICKLAND, Mrs. P. G. c/o Caldbeck Macgregor & Co., Ltd., STUART-JERVIS, Mrs. M. J. - SU, Dr. Chung-jen* SU, Ming-hsuan SUGAR, Mrs. Kathleen - SWIRE, A. C.* · TALBOT, H. D. TAN, Khek-seng" TANG, Mrs. M. - TANG, Sir Shiu-kin* TARARIN, Peter A.* TARR, A. D. + P TARWATER, J. W. THOMAS, L. F. THOMAS, Dr. 0. L. - THOMPSON, Dr. R. W. THORN, Mrs. R. THROWER, Prof. L. B.. TILL, The Very Rev. B.* TISDALL, B. 7 TOPLEY, Dr. Marjorie TOWNER, J. A. L TRISTRAM, M. P. W. + - · · - - Union House, H.K. Flat C. 22 Estoril Court, Garden Road, H.K. Evone Court, Flat C, 24 Yik Yam Street, 6th Floor, Happy Valley, H.K. 45 Hankow Road, 9th Fl., Flat C, Kowloon. Flat F3, Villa Helvetia, 69 Repulse Bay Road, H.K. Messrs. Butterfield & Swire, Union House, H.K. Dept. of Geography & Geology, The University, H.K. 6 Goldsmith Road, Jardine's Lookout, H.K. 7C Bowen Road, Bowen Mansions, Apt., 402, H.K. Room 1701 Central Building, H.K. 7560 Willoughby Avenue, Los Angeles, Cal. 90046, U.S.A. c/o Butterfield & Swire, Union House, H.K. 3 Old Peak Road, H4, H.K. c/o Colonial Secretariat, Lower Albert Road, H.K. Flat 5, "Cliffside", King's Park Rise, Kowloon, Senior Lecturer in Spanish, Univ. of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad, W.I. 14D, Headland Road, Hong Kong. Department of Botany, The University, Pokfulum, H.K. c/o Morley College, 61 Westminster Bridge Road, London S.E.1., England. Room 404 Hong Kong & Shanghai Bank Building, H.K. 19, Peak Mansions, The Peak, H.K. District Office, South, 36 Gascoigne Road, Kowloon, Rating & Valuation Dept., Murray House, Garden Road, H.K. * Life Member Please notify the Hon. Secretary of any inaccuracy ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1967 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/0c488p70g # PRESIDENT'S REPORT FOR 1966 During 1966, the seventh year since its revival in the Colony, the Hong Kong Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society has achieved a gratifying and encouraging success. It continued to diversify its activities and in addition to the regular lectures, a list of which is appended, it published its sixth volume of the Journal while a most successful Symposium was organised under the Chairmanship of Dr. Marjorie Topley in association with Mr. Ma Meng and Mr. James Hayes who also organised an interesting and instructive tour of the old temples and shrines of the Tai Ping Shan district of the island. The lectures given at the Symposium entitled “The Natural and Supernatural in Chinese Social Life and the Role of some Traditional Conceptions in Hong Kong today" covered a wide variety of subjects on cultural, scientific and practical subjects. The Symposium endeavoured to exploit the rich field which Hong Kong affords for the study of the history, life and customs of the Chinese people and to record the traditional patterns of their everyday life before they die out. In this work Dr. Marjorie Topley and her associates repeated the success of the 1964 Symposium, "Aspects of Social Organisation in the New Territories". Particularly noteworthy was the number of papers and talks by distinguished Chinese medical experts who took part in the discussions. The Society is under a great obligation to Dr. Topley and Mr. James Hayes for their zeal and hard work and I should like to record our deep appreciation also of the valuable contributions of Dr. Gerald Choa, Dr. F. I. Tseung, Dr. P. M. Yap and Mr. K. M. A. Barnett as well as that of Mr. Timothy Birch of Radio Hong Kong who led the discussion panel. The results of these studies are being edited by Dr. Topley and recorded in a booklet to be published this year which is likely to be as much in demand as that of 1964 which has now been sold out and will have to be reprinted. The annual Journal, of which the sixth volume appeared last year, continues to maintain its popularity as well as the high standard of scholarship and of editorial capacity set at the outset by Mr. Cranmer-Byng and continued last year with great distinction by Mr. Uhalley who, to our great loss, has left Hong Kong. ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1967 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/0c488p70g We are greatly indebted to Mr. Uhalley for his valuable work, both as Honorary Editor and as a member of the Council. We are most fortunate in having as his successor Mr. James Hayes whose scholarly and popular contributions to the Journal on historical aspects of Hong Kong are well known to its readers. The Journal has now become a valuable publication which members will no doubt find useful to bind for their personal libraries and it has achieved a high reputation among oriental scholars abroad. It is expected that in the coming years there will be a considerable demand for past numbers. Copies of Volume 1 are now already exhausted and consideration will have to be given to reprinting when we have money to do so. The paper on the Old Protestant Cemetery in Macao by Sir Lindsay Ride in Volume 3 of the Journal has been in such demand as the best historical introduction for visitors to Macao that it is now being reprinted. It will be on sale soon and we anticipate that it will be speedily exhausted. Now I want to refer to the Council. Of the original members of the Council only two now remain, Dr. Marjorie Topley and myself. Of the two Vice-Presidents of last year, one, Mr. R. E. Lawry, for so many years our Honorary Secretary and a pillar of the Council and of the Society, left last year and is now with the British Council at Cambridge. The other, Sir Tsun-nin Chau, who was a founder member and a life member, finds that he is unable to attend our regular meetings and now has regretfully tendered his resignation. Towards the end of the year we lost one of our most faithful members, Madam du Breuil, who was always an inspiration and a most zealous supporter of the Society. We feel her loss very deeply. During the year the Council filled the vacancy created by the departure of Mr. R. E. Lawry by electing Mr. Robert Bruce, his successor as representative of the British Council, as a member of the Council. I take this opportunity to thank once again the British Council and Mr. Bruce and his staff for their invaluable help and the facilities which they have at all times extended to the Society, and I wish to thank, in particular, Miss Michaeliones who has worthily followed Mr. Lawry as our Honorary Secretary and accomplishes prodigies of work at all times so readily and cheerfully. I wonder if the Society appreciates the great amount of voluntary work that is done on its behalf or the obligation it owes to its Honorary Secretary and Treasurer. ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1967 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/0c488p70g 7 15 & 16 October SYMPOSIUM Natural and Supernatural in Chinese Social Life. The Role of some Traditional Conceptions in Hong Kong today" K 1. Some basic conceptions and their traditional relationship to society" LC 2. Dr. Marjorie Topley Geomancy and the village: some first hand impressions * Mr. James Hayes 3. Chinese traditional medicine and contemporary Hong Kong " Dr. Gerald Choa 4. "The measurement of elapsed time in Hong Kong: the Chinese calendar; its uses and value" 5. CA 6. * Mr. K. M. A. Barnett Some ideas concerning food and diet among Hong Kong Chinese Dr. Gerald Choa Some aspects of fortune-telling in Hong Kong" Dr. F. I. Tseung 7. "Ideas of mental disorder and their practical influence Dr. P. M. Yap Chinese temples in the local setting" Mr. James Hayes 8. 9. Chinese occasional rites in Hong Kong Dr. Marjorie Topley 29 October 10. General question time on subjects arising generally during the Symposium. Panel Chairman: Mr. Timothy Birch Visit to temples and shrines of the Tai Ping Shan district ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1967 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/0c488p70g 188 BOOK REVIEWS 3. GUIDANCE IN HONG KONG, SECONDARY SCHOOL RESEARCH PROJECT: by Beryl Robina Wright, being Publication No. 6 of the Hong Kong Council for Educational Research, Hong Kong, 1967 pp. viii, 54, H.K.$3.00. These three local publications, one a survey into the household expenses of 120 families edited by Dr. Topley and the other two reports produced by staff of the Child Guidance Centre, University of Hong Kong, are recommended to local members. They provide interesting and enlightening material about the life of poor persons in this crowded city. Their importance lies principally in providing background information to instruct and guide specialists and administrators working with practical problems in the Colony and to provide post-graduate students of the humanities and social sciences with basic facts on which they can construct their own research projects. Page 195 Page 196 ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1967 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/0c488p70g STONEY, Mrs. G. S.. As above. 203 STOWE, C. - Flat No. 112, 75 Macdonnell Road, H.K. STRICKLAND, Mrs. P. G. c/o Caldbeck Macgregor & Co., Ltd., STUART-JERVIS, Mrs. M. J. - SU, Dr. Chung-jen* SU, Ming-hsuan SVENDSEN, Mrs. H. C. + SWIRE, A. C.* - TALBOT, H. D. TAN, Khek-seng* TANG, Mrs. M.. - TANG, Sir Shiu-kin* TARARIN, Peter A.* TARR, A. D. TARWATER, J. W. THOMAS, L. F. THOMAS, Dr. O. L. THOMAS, T. H. THORN, Mrs. R. J THROWER, Prof. L. B. TILL, The Very Rev. B.* TISDALL, B. - TOPLEY, Dr. Marjorie TOWNER, J. A. TRISTRAM, M. P. W. TSEUNG, Dr. F. I. - + Union House, H.K. Flat C, 22 Estoril Court, Garden Road, H.K. 155, Blue Pool Road, Flat A, 1/F, H.K. 45 Hankow Road, 9th Fl., Flat C, Kowloon. 30 Kennedy Road, 7/F, H.K. Messrs. Butterfield & Swire, Union House, H.K. Dept. of Geography & Geology, The University, H.K. 6 Goldsmith Road, Jardine's Lookout, H.K. 7C Bowen Road, Bowen Mansions, Apt., 402, H.K. Room 1701 Central Building, H.K. 623 N. Harper Avenue, Los Angeles, Calif. 90048, U.S.A, Flat 202, Balmacara, 17 Old Peak Road, H.K. 3 Old Peak Road, H4, H.K. c/o Colonial Secretariat, Lower Albert Road, H.K. Flat 5, "Cliffside", King's Park Rise, Kowloon, c/o The British Council, Gloucester Building, H.K. 14D, Headland Road, Hong Kong. 6-B, Alberose, 134 Pokfulum Road, H.K. c/o Morley College, 61 Westminster Bridge Road, London S.E.1., England, 1 Garden Terrace, G/F, H.K. - 19, Peak Mansions, The Peak, H.K. + + 57 Buxcy Lodge, 37 Conduit Road, H.K. Rating & Valuation Dept., Murray House, Garden Road, H.K. China Building, 4th floor, H.K. "Whispers", Riversdale, Bourne End, Bucks, England. * Life Member Please notify the Hon. Secretary of any inaccuracy TURNER, Sir M.* Page 210 Page 211 ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1968 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/66833948d PRESIDENT'S REPORT FOR 1967 The year 1967 will remain on record as a trying and difficult year owing to the Communist disturbances which broke out in May and made it difficult to hold the monthly meetings. Despite these difficulties the Society continued to flourish. It maintained its membership and held twelve meetings, including the very interesting visit to Aberdeen and old Hong Kong under the guidance of Mr. James Hayes. The list of public addresses attached to this report includes some of the most interesting which the Society have enjoyed, and all maintained the standard of scholarship and interest which have been expected of this doyen of Royal Societies. In the last four years the popularity and, in particular, the value of the Society's work has been enhanced by the weekend symposia and excursions to places of interest undertaken with a view to studying the traditional ways of life of the Chinese, in their historical, social and religious aspects, and to placing on record all the knowledge gained through these researches before it vanishes for ever. The symposia and excursions have been highly popular and very well attended; they serve not only to supply gaps in our knowledge of Hong Kong and of the people amongst whom we live but have resulted in the gathering of material of the highest value which have been recorded so far in two publications of great interest and a high standard of scholarship edited by Dr. Marjorie Topley. The first brochure on the Symposium of 1964 (published in 1965) on "The Aspects of Social Organisation In The New Territories" is now sold out and will certainly have to be reprinted. The second and larger book of 145 pages published in 1967 and entitled "Some Traditional Chinese Ideas And Conceptions In Hong Kong Social Life Today" is now on sale and has already been warmly received and appreciated not only by members of the Society but by scholars and research workers in the field of Asiatic studies abroad. These activities of the Society have been conducted under the leadership and guidance of Dr. Marjorie Topley and Mr. James Hayes, and to them and all the experts who have helped them we owe our deepest gratitude. We look forward to the continuance of their valuable work. At the end of 1967 the membership of the Society stood at 420. We were fortunate in the circumstances when so many left the ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1968 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/66833948d 9 CHINESE RELIGION AND RURAL COHESION IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY MARJORIE TOPLEY* In China in the nineteenth century some of the most important ideas which were religious, or had religious implications, linked the destiny of individuals to their ancestors; to numerous gods and sanctified worthies; and to certain cosmic “ethers” and “elements” and their process. Such ideas were associated with organized groups of different kinds. Religious elements were found in a number of institutions of society not primarily religious in purpose and gave an underlying sanctity to secular aims. Religious aims were also the primary aims of other groups who in turn sometimes used secular activities to support their ultimate goals. The majority of China's social institutions in fact contained, with differing emphases, a combination of religious and secular items. Much of the discussion of all this: religion and its importance for social organization, has taken place either against a wide background, territorially speaking, or against the background of a particular local community. But we know not all areas and communities displayed the same amounts of religious activity and the same religious ideas were not everywhere of the same importance. Did the importance of religion as an integrating force vary then, in different local communities, because of variations in their social composition—the kinds of groups using religion? What other social factors affected such variation? If religion provided solidity for different kinds of groups in what circumstance could it work, in a particular community, for or against their integration one with another? Many of the religious ideas of traditional China were regarded by the majority of people as complementary rather than competitive but could they, or the values connected with them, become competitive when used by * Dr. Topley is a B.Sc. (Econ) and Ph.D. (London) and lives in Hong Kong. Her doctorate is in the field of Chinese religion. She is currently a Vice-President of the Royal Asiatic Society, Hong Kong Branch, ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1968 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/66833948d 216 TARR, A. D. - THOMAS, L. F. THOMAS, Dr. O. L. - THOMAS, T. H. THORN, Mrs. R. + THROWER, Prof. L. B. - TILL, The Very Rev. B.* + TISDALL, B. TOLMAN, Norman H. TOOGOOD, C. W. - TOPLEY, Dr. Marjorie TORRIBLE, G. R.* TOWNER, J. A. TRISTRAM, M. P. W. TSEUNG, Dr. F. I. TURNER, Sir Michael* TYLER, Mrs. M. R. + - - P - Flat 202, Balmacara, 17 Old Peak Road, H.K. c/o Colonial Secretariat, Lower Albert Road, H.K. Flat 5, "Cliffside", King's Park Rise, Kowloon, c/o The British Council, Gloucester Building, H.K. 14D, Headland Road, Hong Kong. 6-B, Alberose, 134 Pokfulum Road, H.K. c/o Morley College, 61 Westminster Bridge Road, London S.E.1., England, 1 Garden Terrace, G/F, H.K. Cultural Office, U.S. Consulate General, 26 Garden Road, H.K. c/o Oxford University Press, 5th floor, News Building, 633 King's Road, H.K. 19, Peak Mansions, The Peak, H.K. c/o The Hong Kong Club, H.K. 57 Buxey Lodge, 37 Conduit Road, H.K. Rating & Valuation Dept., Murray House, Garden Road, H.K. China Building, 4th floor, H.K. "Whispers", Riversdale, Bourne End, Bucks, England. 402 Tregunter Mansions, Old Peak Road, H.K. UHALLEY, Dr. Stephen, Jr. Department of Oriental Studies, University VETCH, H. VETCH, Mrs. H. + VIO, Dr. E. G. VISICK, Mrs. M. WALDEN, J. C. C. + WARD, Miss J. E. A.* WARRINGTON-STRONG, Cmdr. F. WATSON, Hon. K. A. WATERS, D. D. WEBB-JOHNSON, S. A. WEI, Dr. Tat of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, U.S.A. Hong Kong Univ. Press, The University, H.K. As above, 315, H.K. & Shanghai Bank Building, H.K. Dept. of English, The University, H.K. c/o Urban Services Dept., Central Govt. Offices, (West Wing), H.K. c/o National Provincial Bank Ltd., Bideford, N. Devon, England. c/o Registry of Persons Office, Causeway Bay Magistracy, H.K. c/o Lammert Bros., Pedder Building, H.K. Technical College, Hung Hom, Kowloon. 46 King's Park Flats, Kowloon, 3. Fontana Gardens, 5th Floor, Causeway Hill, H.K. *Life Member Please notify the Hon. Secretary of any inaccuracy ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1969 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/9g553n20d # PRESIDENT'S REPORT FOR 1968 The Society is now in its tenth year since its revival in 1959. Its membership at the end of 1968 was 437 - an increase of 17 over 1967. Despite the loss of 47 members mainly owing to their departure from the Colony, we gained 63 new members including 5 life members, one of whom was already an ordinary member. We have now reached the point where our gains over our losses each year are not great but are steadily maintained. During the year, the Society met fourteen times, at which addresses of a high standard were given both by eminent scholars from overseas and a welcome number of scholars living or working in the Colony. The crowning and most popular activities of the year were the two symposia organized under the chairmanship of Dr. Marjorie Topley. Firstly, in March last year, we had the weekend visit to Chinese Vegetarian Halls of the Sect of Former Heaven in Kowloon. Then, on November 2 and 3, the Branch held a Weekend Symposium organized by Professor D. J. Dwyer of the Department of Geography and Geology of the University of Hong Kong, which had for its subject "The Changing Face of Hong Kong". The programme included six lectures with illustrating exhibits by Professor Dwyer himself and members of the staff of his department and of the Agriculture and Fisheries Department, followed by a panel discussion of members' questions. On the second day, there were three field trips under the specialist lecturers for further study of the subject on the spot. The Society is deeply indebted to Professor Dwyer and the specialists who took part in this most edifying and highly successful study, and to those who were responsible for its organization. The Journal of the Society deserves special attention. With Mr. James Hayes as Editor, the Journal has not only maintained its standard of scholarship but has increased in popularity and repute, especially among scholars and readers overseas, and we have built up a valuable library of journals which other societies with similar objects have been keen to exchange for ours. The sale of our Journal last year was more than twice that of the previous year. There is a greatly increased demand for back ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1969 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/9g553n20d Council in February of this year, and more recently both Mr. J. S. Lee and Mr. M. S. Cumming have resigned owing to their many other commitments, and in the case of Mr. Cumming owing to the likelihood of his being away a good deal from the Colony during the year. Of the original Council of 1959 there are only two left - Dr. Marjorie Topley and myself. The Council is a hard-working body; it meets at least once a month and its activities involve a great deal of time and labour. It is essential for the future of the Society to fill the vacancies with persons who have real interest in the work of the Society and are prepared to share the work in furthering its interests. In concluding I want to thank all my colleagues on the Council for their unremitting work, the British Council for their traditional help in a variety of ways and for the use of their premises for the meetings of the Council and their Library to house the greater part of the Society's books, and last but not least Mrs. O'Hara, also of the British Council, for her ever-willing and ready help and secretarial work which have been most valuable. 28 April, 1969. Lectures in 1968 comprised:- 15 January Professor Michael Sullivan. "The Cave Temples of Maichishan (with slides). 26 February J. R. JONES "The British Treaty with Siam of 1855" 16 March Mr. Robert Bruce. Visit to Chinese Vegetarian Halls (chai-t'ang) and the Sects of Former Heaven (Hsien-t'ien Tao). 18 March Dr. Philip Mao. "Some Aspects of Ching Dynasty Porcelain of the Kang Hsi, Yung Cheng & Ch'ien Lung Periods" (illustrated with slides). 8 April Annual General Meeting. 29 April Mr. T. C. Cheng. "Chinese Unofficial Members of the Legislative and Executive Councils in Hong Kong up to 1941". ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1969 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/9g553n20d 170 BOOK REVIEWS Japanese villages, Mexican villages and, indeed, European villages. It is precisely through looking for parallels and differences in social structure (despite what might be great differences in culture) that generalizations about the village as a form of social organization and human association may in fact be forthcoming. What would seem to be required now is a two-fold effort in which the Hong Kong Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society might fruitfully participate. The first effort should be the accumulation of data in archival form which would be available to scholars in Hong Kong to use for comparative purposes. This archival effort would have to be well enough subsidized to be able to reproduce and store data, the original copies of which no author would willingly leave behind. The second effort usefully could be a conference of people actively involved or likely to be involved in research about Hong Kong villages (or indeed any villages) in which discussions could be held concerning what current researchers in the field think are the major issues and research problems. Perhaps through this conference a programmatic series of research efforts, which would have greater final scientific value than any single research effort could have, would be forthcoming. Open-ended books like Mr. Baker's can help to stimulate thinking of this kind and as a consequence must be rated as both useful and important. STRANGERS AT THE GATE, SOCIAL DISORDER IN SOUTH CHINA, 1839-1861. Frederic Wakeman, Jr., University of California Press, 1966, pp. 276, US$6. This fairly short book provides a narrative of the main events of twenty-three years of British dealings with Canton and Kwang- 11 The Centre of Asian Studies, University of Hong Kong, has recently begun such a project. A conference has been held in which problems of research have been discussed: this is a hopeful beginning. It may be further aided by the forthcoming publication of a new bibliography of materials about Hong Kong, to be published shortly by the Department of Extramural Studies, of the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Editor's note: the proceedings of the conference mentioned in Dr. Berkowitz's note 11 have now been published. See Marjorie Topley (compiler) Anthropology and Sociology in Hong Kong. Field Projects and Problems of Overseas Scholars. Hong Kong, Centre of Asian Studies, University of Hong Kong, 1969. ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1969 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/9g553n20d 176 BOOK REVIEWS the modification of the position and attitudes of the British Mandarinate. This is a most valuable piece of research; it is to be hoped that Mr. Lethbridge will eventually be able to give us a fuller publication on the events and the effects of this period. Other contributions which explore the dynamics of Hong Kong society, rather than one of its disparate elements, are those of J. S. Cansdale and E. Kvan; both treat of students at Hong Kong University, a group whose significance as a focal point of East-West contact is out of all proportion to its numbers. One would like to see these enquiries, cultural and psychological, followed up in, for example, a study of Chinese government servants in Hong Kong; those, in other words, for whom the crisis of contact is subtly different. Having grasped the fruits of their education, traumatic though it may have been, they are now at the focus of political and administrative contact between East and West. What conflicts do they experience, and how are these resolved? Concerning a third paper which attempts to deal with the specific problem of East-West contact, that of the co-editors themselves -- I have considerable misgivings. I feel that they might have taken heed of the fact that few have dared to tread this ground, and thus been more wary of venturing into so intricate a subject as that of "face". They contend that Chinese concern for "face" is not only a barrier to trivial moments of daily interaction, but to the more vital (in their estimation) process of westernisation; they go so far as to ask how any society so burdened could have functioned in the past. I would emphasise the value of a more positive approach: if the traditional Chinese concept of status relations had been so unwieldy, the society would surely have failed to function at all. It would have been better to investigate, with the fullest reliance on Chinese sources, the role of "face" in the total social system of traditional China: was it in fact a barrier to, or a method of communication? The subject of "face" is at once sufficiently important to deserve a better informed and more sympathetic treatment than this, and is yet at the same time possibly less important than the authors lead us to suppose. There is little need to stress the value of Dr. Marjorie Topley's essay, here reprinted, on Chinese attitudes to wealth. Scholars in ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1969 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/9g553n20d 183 ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY HONG KONG BRANCH List of Members Patron: His Excellency Sir David Trench, K.C.M.G., M.C. Honorary Members: Sir Robert Black, G.C.M.G., O.B.E.* 183 Oakwood Court, London, W.14, England. Prof. J. L. Cranmer-Byng, M.C., M.A.* 190, Glengrove Avenue, W., Toronto 12, Canada. R. E. Lawry, O.B.E., F.R.G.S.* 36, Newton Road, Cambridge, England. Dr. Marjorie Topley, B.Sc. Econ., Ph.D.* 19, Peak Mansions, The Peak, H.K. Members: AKERS-JONES, D. c/o Colonial Secretariat, Lower Albert Road, H.K. ALLEYNE, Mrs. E. L. University of Hong Kong, Pokfulum, H.K. ARMERDING, L. E.* P.O. Box 4333, North Point, H.K. ASERAPPA, Mrs. J. P. 6 Lloyd Path, Severn Road, H.K. AU, K. N. c/o Grantham College of Education, Gascoigne Road, Kowloon. Bachman, Miss Ann H. c/o American Consulate General, 26 Garden Road, H.K. BAKER, Dr. H. D. R. c/o School of Oriental and African Studies, London, W.C.1, England. BAKER, W. E.* c/o The Hongkong Electric Co., Ltd. 40, St. Mary Axe, London, E.C.3. England. BALL, J. M. c/o H. K. Refrigerating Co., Ltd. P. O. Box 291, H.K. BARD, Dr. S. M. University Health Service, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulum, H.K. BARNETT, K. M. A. P. O. Box 248, H.K. BARR, Miss E. 80 Robinson Road, H.K. BARRY, Cmdr. R. S. Hong Kong Club, H.K. BASHALL, Mrs. C. G. c/o H.M. Prison, Stanley, H.K. BEDLINGTON, Mrs. M. 1, Albion Terrace, Kowloon Docks, Hunghom, Kowloon. * Life Member Please notify the Hon. Secretary of any inaccuracy ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1970 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/ww72j0241 2 to extend the same co-operation to the officers of the Society here in Hong Kong, as has happily been the case throughout the past decade. I would like here to add a final word of thanks to the Curator of the City Museum who has helped with the production of photographs for the Journal at various times since I became Hon. Editor in 1966. The interest shown by Mr. Warner and his senior staff in our work has been continuous and, need I say, very much appreciated. Dr. Marjorie Topley has very kindly assisted with the book review section of this year's Journal. Hong Kong, 1970. ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1970 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/ww72j0241 # PRESIDENT'S REPORT FOR 1969 This is the tenth statutory Annual General Meeting of the Society but as the First Annual Meeting was held in April 1961 more than a year after its revival in December 1959 the Society is well on its eleventh year of its renewed existence. This is therefore an important milestone in its history. It had been contemplated that it would be fitting to hold a Society dinner to mark the occasion but it has been decided to postpone this celebration until the autumn. Nevertheless I feel happy to present to you to-day the report which shows that the Society is flourishing, is very active and is in a sound financial position. It had, at the end of 1969, 462 members including 69 life members more than 25 over last year in spite of the loss of 28. The membership of the Society has changed considerably in ten years. In the Council, for instance, there are only two of the original members left - Dr. Marjorie Topley and myself. Together with Mr. (now Professor) Cranmer-Byng we planned in 1959 to revive the Society after an interval of a century. A meeting of thirty interested members was convened at the British Council Centre on 28th December, 1959. The Meeting was a success; the Society was duly constituted, the Rules were approved and an opening meeting was held at the Hong Kong Club when Prince Peter of Greece and Denmark gave a talk illustrated with a colour film on "The Social and Economic Organisation of Tibet". A formal inaugural meeting was held on 7th April, 1960 when Professor F. S. Drake of the University of Hong Kong delivered an address on "The Study of Asia: a Heritage and a Task". It was a memorable address which gave the stamp of learning and authority and set an objective ideal for our efforts. I may perhaps be forgiven on this tenth anniversary to indulge in a little of the history of the Society for the information of members who have joined since 1959. We have a tradition, and in the words of Professor Drake "a heritage and a task”. The Royal Asiatic Society is not a new body. Its roots go back to the middle of the 19th Century, especially in India, when societies were formed for the study of the East under the impetus of a greater British interest which was a corollary of expanding ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1970 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/ww72j0241 and last Monday's lecture by Dr. Hu on Flowering Trees. The most popular activities each year are the annual symposia held under the Chairmanship of Dr. Topley and the occasional excursions, such as the tour of Old Shau Kei Wan organised last year by Mr. J. W. Hayes. These tours, as well as being studies in the history and social life of Hong Kong, are popular and prove of great service in bringing members together, giving them an opportunity of knowing each other and welding them into one Society of common interest and purpose. In accord with the objects of the parent society and the principles enunciated by Sir John Davis, we have tried to direct attention to practical projects and to natural history as well as to literary pursuits. Thus, a week-end symposium was organised in 1968 under Professor Dwyer of the University of Hong Kong on the subject of The Changing Face of Hong Kong, and recently another week-end symposium was organised by Professor Thrower, as mentioned above. A record of these studies is being edited and will in due course be published by the Society and so make a valuable contribution to the natural history of the Colony. The Journal of the Society maintains its high academic standard and interest under the Editorship of Mr. J. W. Hayes. The tenth volume is in the press and will be out later this year. Vol. I, which had long been out of print, has now been reprinted and is now available to meet the increasing demand of members and of scholars and readers overseas for a complete set of the Society's publications, which are now becoming very valuable and much sought after by libraries and learned institutions as well as by individual readers all over the world. Our greatest problem is our library, and our great sorrow is that our resources do not enable us to rent a room to house our books, let alone to pay a librarian. The original society in Hong Kong had been granted by Sir George Bonham a room in the old Supreme Court to hold its meetings and to house its library. When the Society ran into difficulties in 1858, it handed over its valuable library of 400 books on trust to the Morrison Education Society, which also kept its library in the Old Court House, and in 1869 the Morrison Society presented its own library and that of the Royal Asiatic Society to the City Hall Library. I feel, therefore, that the Government is not without obligation to the Society in respect of the housing of its present library. In Shanghai ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1970 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/ww72j0241 # ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY # HONG KONG BRANCH # List of Members Patron: His Excellency Sir David Trench, G.C.M.G., M.C. Honorary Members: Sir Robert Black, G.C.M.G., O.B.E.* Prof. J. L. Cranmer-Byng, M.C., M.A.* Dr. J. R. Jones, C.B.E., M.C., M.A., LL.D., J.P.* R. E. Lawry, O.B.E., F.R.G.S.* Dr. Marjorie Topley, B.Sc. Econ., Ph.D.* 183, Oakwood Court, London, W.14, England. 190, Glengrove Avenue, W., Toronto 12, Canada, 3, Abermor Court, May Road, H.K. 36, Newton Road, Cambridge, England. 19, Peak Mansions, The Peak, H.K. Members: AKERS-JONES, D. - c/o Colonial Secretariat (Lands Branch), Lower Albert Road, H.K. ALLEYNE, Mrs. E. L. - c/o University of Hong Kong, Pokfulum, H.K. ARMERDING, L. E.* - P.O. Box 4333, North Point, H.K. ASERAPPA, Mrs. J. P. - 7, Peak Pavilions, 12 Mt. Kellett Road, H.K. AU, K. N. - c/o Grantham College of Education, Gascoigne Road, Kowloon. AXILROD, Dr. E. + c/o Economic Research Centre, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T. BACHMAN, Miss Ann H. - c/o American Consulate General, BAKER, Dr. H. D. R. - 26 Garden Road, H.K. BAKER, W. E.* - c/o School of Oriental and African Studies, London, W.C.1, England. BALL, J. M.* - c/o The Hongkong Electric Co., Ltd. BARD, Dr. S. M. - 40, St. Mary Axe, London, E.C.3. England. BARNETT, K. M. A. - c/o H. K. Refrigerating Co., Ltd. P. O. Box 291, H.K. - c/o University Health Service, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulum, H.K. P. O. Box 248, H.K. * Life Member Please notify the Hon. Secretary of any inaccuracy ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1971 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/z029vt43g 4 from time to time regarding lecture subjects, and particularly would welcome advance information any of you may have regarding impending visits to the Colony of experts in some branch of Asian affairs, who may be willing to lecture to the Society during their stop-over here in Hong Kong. Other Meetings. In addition to the 10th Anniversary Dinner already referred to, mention must be made of the Annual General Meeting and of the Council meetings. The Annual General Meeting was held on Wednesday, 13th May, 1970, in the Hong Kong Club, at which the reports of the President and the Treasurer were received, the officers of the Society and Council Members were elected and the Auditors appointed. The officers and council members elected were as follows: President: Sir Lindsay Ride, C.B.E. Officers of the Society Vice-Presidents: Dr. Marjorie Topley Mr. J. W. Hayes Hon. Secretary: Mr. J. L. H. Webster, C.M.G. Hon. Librarian: Mr. H. A. Rydings, M.B.E. Hon. Treasurer: Mr. D. A. Gilkes Other Members of Council Dr J. R. Jones, C.B.E. (Past-President). Professor Ma Meng, M.B.E. Mr. H. T. Wu Commander F. Warrington-Strong, D.S.C. Mr. G. A. Bridges During the year, the Council met nine times, and I have much pleasure in informing you that (a) on the 4th May, 1970, Mr. J. W. Hayes was appointed to the vacant Vice-Presidency; (b) on the 29th June, Dr. J. R. Jones, the retiring President, was invited to become an Honorary Member of the Society, an invitation which he honoured us by accepting. This action was taken under Rule 9 which provides that "Persons of eminent attainment, rank or situation or persons who have rendered distinguished service towards ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1971 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/z029vt43g ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY HONG KONG BRANCH List of Members Patron: His Excellency Sir David Trench, G.C.M.G., M.C. Honorary Members: Sir Robert Black, G.C.M.G., O.B.E.* Prof. J. L. Cranmer-Byng, M.C., M.A.* Dr. J. R. Jones, C.B.E., M.C., M.A., LL.D., J.P.* R. E. Lawry, O.B.E., F.R.G.S.* Dr. Marjorie Topley, B.Sc. Econ., Ph.D.* 183, Oakwood Court, London, W.14, England. 190, Glengrove Avenue, W., Toronto 12, Canada. 3, Abermor Court, May Road, H.K. 36, Newton Road, Cambridge, England. 19, Peak Mansions, The Peak, H.K. Members: ADAMS, Mrs. D. S. AKERS-JONES, D. - ALLEYNE, Mrs. E. L. ARMERDING, L. E.* ASERAPPA, Mrs. J. P. ASHENHURST, Mrs. F. E. - AU, K. N. - AXILROD, Dr. E. BAKER, Dr. H. D. R. BAKER, W. E.* BALL, J. M.* The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T. c/o Colonial Secretariat (Lands Branch), Lower Albert Road, H.K. c/o University of Hong Kong, Pokfulum, H.K. Suite 1308, 2222 Kalakaua Avenue, Honolulu, Hawaii, 96815, U.S.A. 7, Peak Pavilions, 12 Mt. Kellett Road, H.K. C-4 Royden Court, 129 Repulse Bay Road, H.K. c/o Grantham College of Education, Gascoigne Road, Kowloon. c/o Economic Research Centre, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T. "Satis House", 9 Chase Gardens, Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, England. c/o The Hongkong Electric Co., Ltd. 40, St. Mary Axe, London, E.C.3, England. c/o H. K. Refrigerating Co., Ltd. P. O. Box 291, H.K. * Life Member Please notify the Hon. Secretary of any inaccuracy ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1974 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/x633mp077 ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY HONG KONG BRANCH MEMBERSHIP LIST Patron: His Excellency Sir David Trench, G.C.M.G., M.C. HONORARY MEMBERS: BLACK, Sir Robert, G.C.M.G., O.B.E. CRANMER-BYNG, Prof. J. L., M.C., M.A. JONES, Dr. J. R., C.B.E., M.C., M.A., LL.D., J.P. LAWRY, R. E., O.B.E., F.R.G.S. TOPLEY, Dr. Marjorie, B.Sc. Econ., Ph.D. 183, Oakwood Court, London, W.14, England. 190, Glengrove Avenue, W., Toronto 12, Canada. 3, Abermor Court, May Road, H.K. 36, Newton Road, Cambridge, England. 19, Peak Mansions, The Peak, H.K. ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1975 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/j0995146d EUROPEAN WORKING CLASS IN 19TH CENTURY 105 had married, or lived with, Chinese, Eurasian or Portuguese women and for that reason stayed on. The decision to remain in employment in Hong Kong was also related to the level of wages in Britain and to depressions and unemployment in the mother country. Most felt that they were better off, if only marginally, in Hong Kong. Lastly, many inspectors had served in the army, navy or merchant marine; the jobs they took in Hong Kong usually satisfied their instinct for hierarchy, order, and discipline. As Dr. Topley writes: In Hong Kong, unlike in some British colonies and ex-colonies, two social classes of westerners are recognized. Chinese divide westerners into the taai-puân (bosses) and pong-paân (help-manage). The latter category includes most people who are in uniformed supervisory jobs. The former term has been romanised by westerners in Hong Kong as "Taipan" and is used commonly in conversation and in the English press to refer to wealthy westerners.28 Those in uniformed supervisory jobs—members of what one may call the 'inspectorate'—were in nearly every case former servicemen. There was thus no radical break in their lives when they stayed to work in Hong Kong in the dockyards, Marine Department, Sanitary Department, P.W.D., police, or prisons. TAIPANS AND THE EUROPEAN LOWER CLASS Visitors to Hong Kong were always startled by the extent of conspicuous consumption found there. Typical are these comments by a seasoned traveller in the 1860s: Europeans in Hongkong live in a very expensive style; much more expensively, one would think, than they need do, when we consider that many of the necessaries of life are to be had at prices very little in advance of our market rates at home. Nothing surprised me more in Hong Kong than the expensive way in which English assistants were housed, and the luxuries with which they were indulged. Indeed few more luxurious quarters were anywhere to be found than the 'junior messes' of the wealthy British firms. There the unfledged youth, coming out from the simplicity of some rural home, was apt to develop into a man of epicurean tastes, a connoisseur in wines, and to become lavish in expenditure...29 ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1976 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/hq382988q SOCIAL RESEARCH IN THE N.T. OF HONG KONG, 1963 Other field workers, both British and American, are likely to follow them. 4. My own work would have been impossible without the generous help of many officers of the New Territories Administration; I should like to thank them collectively, expressing my gratitude in particular to the District Officer Tai Po and his staff. I have also the pleasure of thanking many officers in other branches of the Government; among them my thanks go especially to Mr. K.M.A. Barnett, Mr. J.W. Hayes, Mr. K.W.J. Topley, and Mr. P.K.C. Tsui; I am in the debt of the Secretariat for Chinese Affairs, the Department of Co-operative Development and Fisheries, various officers of the Courts, and the Colonial Secretariat Library. To my host in Tai Po, Mr. Tsang For-piu, I am specially obliged. I should like also to thank my colleague Dr. Marjorie Topley for much guidance and several teachers at the University of Hong Kong whom I had the privilege of consulting. 5. In what is to follow I shall discuss the general background to social research in the New Territories, report on some of the problems I have myself looked into, and suggest what further work could be done (and how it might be done) to promote the interests of both scholarship and administration. 6. Until the advent of the Communist regime in China the New Territories did not interest social scientists. (It can also be argued that they were of little interest to anybody outside the New Territories Administration). Chinese scholars could not be expected to concern themselves with territory under British rule, while scholars from the West were far too preoccupied with China to consider the claims of a stretch of the Chinese countryside which, from their point of view, was no more than the railway route into Kwangtung. And of course it must be remembered that the number of social scientists working on Chinese themes was, before the Second World War, extremely small. Since 1949 the New Territories have come increasingly to be appreciated as a field for research: they have been politically accessible and have had the advantage of offering for study perhaps the best living example (however much affected by British rule and modern changes) of traditional Chinese country life. So far three anthropologists have completed field studies in the New Territories: Miss Barbara E. Ward, from London, who was primarily concerned with Tanka fishermen in the Sai Kung area (and who will probably be revisiting the New Territories this ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1976 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/hq382988q 194 MAURICE FREEDMAN summer); Miss Jean Pratt from Cambridge, who studied a Hakka village in the neighbourhood of Tai Po; and, most recently, Mr. Jack Potter, from Berkeley, California, who has just completed a study of one of the major Tang settlements in Yuen Long District. All these may be called community studies, for they attempted to give rounded accounts of the lives of the people they investigated. The results of the three studies, when they are fully published, will provide a useful sample of traditional communities in the New Territories, for they cover both fishing and agriculture and range from relatively unsophisticated Tanka, through a small, and in some respects isolated, Hakka settlement, to one of the old centres of Punti power. In addition to these field studies the work of another anthropologist, Dr. Marjorie Topley, has dealt with the New Territories in a general way in regard to aspects of their economic life. 7. The gaps in knowledge and understanding of New Territories society are in part filled by the results of investigations carried out by other kinds of scholars. I have in mind particularly the work done by geographers and historians. The field studies by Dr. T.R. Tregear and Dr. C.J. Grant are too well known to call for my comment. At the moment further geographical field studies are in train; for example, Mr. Ronald Ng, a graduate student at the University of Hong Kong, is engaged in an investigation of the Tung Chung valley which promises to bring in much new material on the social aspects of agriculture. As for history, I may mention the work of Mr. J.W. Hayes, formerly a District Officer in the New Territories; he has produced two studies, one dealing with the New Territories as they were just before British rule, the other on Cheung Chau, which illustrate very happily how the work of the social historian and that of the anthropologist can complement each other. 8. But when the fruits of all this work are put together they will still leave out of account much that is important. The New Territories can no longer be regarded as simply a rural appendage to urban Hong Kong, an area where traditional Chinese village life has, because of the accident arising out of diplomacy in the nineteenth century, been fostered by British administration, a museum conveniently arranged for the benefit of antiquarians. The population has changed to what extent is demonstrated by the admirably conducted and analysed census of 1961. Modern industry has not ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1977 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/np198x23n ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY HONG KONG BRANCH MEMBERSHIP LIST Patron: His Excellency Sir Murray MacLehose, K.C.M.G., M.B.E. HONORARY MEMBERS: BLACK, Sir Robert, K.C.M.G., O.B.E. CRANMER-BYNG, Prof. J. L., M.C., M.A. LAWRY, R. E., O.B.E., F.R.G.S. MacLEHOSE, Sir Murray, G.C.M.G., K.C.V.O. O'HARA, Mrs. Margaret TOPLEY, Dr. Marjorie, B.Sc. Econ., Ph.D. + - Mapleton House, Ashampsted Common, nr. Reading, Berks., England. 190, Glengrove Ave., W., Toronto 12, Canada. Government House, Hong Kong. The British Council, Easey Commercial Building 20/Fl., 253-261 Hennessy Road, Hong Kong. 10, Mount Kellet Road, The Peak, Hong Kong. The list is of the members as of Dec. 31, 1977. Page 255 Page 256 should be revised to meet the exact format requirement as follows: ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY HONG KONG BRANCH MEMBERSHIP LIST Patron: His Excellency Sir Murray MacLehose, K.C.M.G., M.B.E. HONORARY MEMBERS: BLACK, Sir Robert, K.C.M.G., O.B.E. CRANMER-BYNG, Prof. J. L., M.C., M.A. LAWRY, R. E., O.B.E., F.R.G.S. MacLEHOSE, Sir Murray, G.C.M.G., K.C.V.O. O'HARA, Mrs. Margaret TOPLEY, Dr. Marjorie, B.Sc. Econ., Ph.D. + - Mapleton House, Ashampsted Common, nr. Reading, Berks., England. 190, Glengrove Ave., W., Toronto 12, Canada. Government House, Hong Kong. The British Council, Easey Commercial Building 20/Fl., 253-261 Hennessy Road, Hong Kong. 10, Mount Kellet Road, The Peak, Hong Kong. The list is of the members as of Dec. 31, 1977. Page 255 Page 256 ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1978 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/8g84t8593 BOOK REVIEWS ANCESTRAL IMAGES; A HONG KONG ALBUM. Dr Hugh Baker. Hong Kong, South China Morning Post Limited, 1979. At last, a book for those interested in Chinese traditions and beliefs in Hong Kong, that is about Hong Kong, and written with the ordinary layman in mind. Dr. Baker, known to members of this Society from the several talks he has delivered, is a sinologist trained in anthropological field-work, and he brings his knowledge and first-hand experience to us here in forty very readable short pieces. Some of our longer-term residents will recognise, and may have kept, many of them as they were originally serialised in the South China Morning Post between 1977-1978, but it is unlikely that they will have preserved them all. Now they are here, all together between one hard-back cover with a dramatic photograph of “daai si,” one of the gods described in the text, on the front of the dust sheet. Although the book is entitled Ancestral Images it covers a comprehensive range of topics: from pigs to incantations, and geomancy to New Year biscuits, all amply and expertly illustrated with the author's own black and white and coloured photographs. This book would make an excellent gift for expatriate newcomers and their parents back home; and it affords a good introduction for those wishing to pursue the study of Chinese culture further. There is a useful list of secondary source references in English at the back. Hong Kong. June, 1979. MARJORIE TOPLEY HONG KONG : STABILITY AND CHANGE, A COLLECTION OF ESSAYS. Henry Lethbridge Hong Kong, Oxford University Press, 1978. This book contains ten essays on the social history of Hong Kong, all concerned in one way or other with questions of social stability: a stability which, as the author points out, stands in marked contrast to the conditions obtaining in many other Asian countries. Nine of the essays were previously published elsewhere (five ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1979 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/2801w5938 ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY HONG KONG BRANCH MEMBERSHIP LIST Patron: His Excellency Sir Murray MacLehose, K.C.M.G., M.B.E. HONORARY MEMBERS MACLEHOSE, Sir Murray, GBE, KCMG, KCVO, Government House, Garden Road, HONG KONG. The Aide-De-Camp, Government House, HONG KONG, TOPLEY, Dr. Marjorie, 10 Mount Keller Road, The Peak, HONG KONG. O'HARA, Mrs. Margaret, Easey Commercial Building, 20/F1., 253-261 Hennessy Road, HONG KONG. LAM, Mr. Yung-Fai, c/o Ye Olde Printerie, 13, Duddell Street, HONG KONG. 235 ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1980 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/kh04md207 THE HONG KONG BRANCH OF THE ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY Patron: H.E. Sir Murray Maclehose, G.B.E., K.C.M.G., K.C.V.O., M.A. Governor of Hong Kong The Council, 1980 President: Marjorie Topley, B.Sc.(Econ.), Ph.D. Vice-Presidents: J. W. Hayes, M.A., Ph.D., J.P. Carl T. Smith, B.A., M.Div. Hon. Secretary: B. C. J. Shaw, B.A., Ph.D. (Succeeded temporarily by Dr. Wright in July 1980) Hon. Treasurer: D. A. Gilkes, M.A., C.A., J.P. Hon. Editor: J. W. Hayes, M.A., Ph.D., J.P. Hon. Librarian: H. A. Rydings, M.B.E., M.A., A.L.A. Councillors: A. I. Diamond, M.A. L. R. Wright, A.B., M.A., Ph.D. D. H. Liu Mrs. Lea Fung P. K. Cavaye, B.A., Dip.Ed. Hugh Gibb, M.A. B. A. V. Peacock, M.A. iii ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1980 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/kh04md207 BOOK REVIEWS ANCESTRAL IMAGES, MORE ANCESTRAL IMAGES, ANCESTRAL IMAGES AGAIN Dr. Hugh Baker, Hong Kong, South China Morning Post Ltd., pp. viii, 162, viii, 164, viii, 186. The first volume in this series was reviewed in the Journal by Dr. Marjorie Topley a few years ago. Since then, two more volumes in this popular series have appeared and I have no doubt that they will be reprinted frequently to meet public demand. The three books' main asset is their easy style and readability. This is due to the wide observation of the anthropologist - Dr. Baker's own discipline - a good command of Chinese and Cantonese dialect - Dr. Baker is also a teacher of Chinese language and the added benefit of his wide reading in older books which provide a wider background to his stories. "I have spent hours trapped inside some of the books", he writes. In addition, there are excellent photographs from his own collection, most of which are reproduced in colour. The result is far and away the best and most enlightening introduction to the history and customs of the New Territories. The books show the reader what to look out for, and give him some idea of background and wider connections. To my mind each volume is better than the one before. In the third, in particular, Dr. Baker's familiarity with his subject leads to a great ease that, combined with his excellent sense of humour and sense of timing, provides some really entertaining reading. See pages 36-37, 65, 92, 122 (with photograph), 128, 150 to cite only a few examples. But let no one think that this means "light" content. I have found many illuminating things in these volumes, and enjoyed stories and situations from life which gave added point to things I have half understood for years. This arises largely from Dr. Baker's eighteen-month stay in Sheung Shui village in the New Territories in the mid 1960s, and his keen observation of the Hong Kong scene in later visits. ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1981 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/ff36bt18m Seven. Again I appeal to all who are changing their addresses or leaving Hong Kong and want to transfer to overseas membership to notify us of the change. Occasionally we receive a protest from a member who has moved that he is not receiving notices, and we usually discover that he has not informed us of his move. You still need to inform us even if you know somebody on the Council who is aware of the change - this information does not automatically reach those who address and send out mail. Library Tony Rydings has tabled a separate library report so I will not dwell on library business, but would like to remark our pleasure at the increase in borrowing during the year: it is nice to know a library is actually being used. The new catalogue should be out fairly soon and we hope it will further encourage use. I would also like to take this opportunity of thanking donors of books during the period: Hong Kong University, Dr. James Hayes; Professor Ho Peng-Yoke and Dr. S. C. Young, founder of Kyung Hee University, Seoul. Since the Librarian's report was written we have also received over twenty books and several issues of periodicals from the Editor of the magazine Orientations. Details will be included in next year's report but again I take this opportunity of extending our thanks for the many excellent additions to our collection. It remains, finally, for me only to thank everybody who has contributed to our activities this year and whom I have not mentioned by name -- our auditors, lecturers, expedition organizers and those helping to distribute our publications for sale. Thank you all very much indeed. Marjorie Topley ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1981 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/ff36bt18m 211 ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY HONG KONG BRANCH MEMBERSHIP LIST (As at 31st December, 1982) Patron H.E. Sir Murray Maclehose, G.B.E., K.C.M.G., K.C.V.O., HONORARY MEMBERS The Aide-de-Camp, Government House LAM, Mr. Yung-fai LAWRY, Mr. R.E. MACLEHOSE, Sir Murray, G.B.E., K.C.M.G., K.C.V.O. O'HARA, Mrs. Margaret, TOPLEY, Dr. Marjorie, LOCAL LIFE MEMBERS ALLEYNE, Mrs. E.L. BOARD, Mr. D.B.M. BONSALL, Mr. G.W. BUTT, Dr. N.S.G. CALCINA, Mr. P.G. CHAMBERS, Mr. J.W. CHAN, Mr. Alfred T. CHENG, Mr. Tuck CHIU, Dr. Ling Yeong, CHOA, Dr. Gerald H. CHUN, Miss Oy-ling COMBER, Mr. Leon CRAMER, Mr. B.L.C. CRONE, Dr. D.L. DJOU, Mr. G.G. DUNCAN, Mrs. Josephine EMERSON, Mr. Geoffrey C. EVANS, Mr. Paul J. EVANS, Mrs. P.J. FABER, Mrs. Audrey FAULKNER, Mr. Raymond J. FOK, Miss Nora FREMANTLE, Mr. Adam FRY, Mr. R.A. FUNG, Mrs. Beatrice, GAFF, Mrs. Jennifer A. GORDON, The Hon. Sir S.S. GREEN, Mrs. Judith HASE, Dr. Patrick H. HAYES, Dr. James W. HAYIM, Mr. E.J. HO, Mr. Tick-on HONEY, Dr. N.R. HOPKINSON, Mrs. I. HOWARD, Mr. William James HOWNAM-MEEK, Mrs. R.S. HOYNINGEN-HUENE, Baron Ture von HU, Dr. Shih Chang HUI, Miss Wai Haan HUNG, Mr. Chiu-sing IU, Miss Sheila KINOSHITA, Mr. James H. KVAN, Rev. Erik LAI, Mr. T.C LAU, Dr. Michael Wai-Mai LAWRENCE, Mrs. B.M.I. LEE, Mr. J.S. LEE, Dr. R.C. LETHBRIDGE, Mr. H.J. LEUNG, Mr. Pak-Kui LI, Mr. David K.P. FUNG, Sir Kenneth Ping-Fan, O.B.E., J.P. LISOWSKI, Prof. F.P. LISOWSKI, Mrs. W.Y. GILKES, Mr. David GORDON, Mr. K.H.A. LIU, Mr. D.H. LO, Mr. T.S. Page 225 Page 226 ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1982 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/mk61z420p ADDRESS BY DR. JAMES HAYES, AT THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING, 17TH FEBRUARY 1983 Dr. Topley, ladies and gentlemen, According to p. 4 of Vol. 1 (1961) of the Journal of the Hong Kong Branch, Royal Asiatic Society: "THE HONG KONG BRANCH was resuscitated as the outcome of a meeting attended by some thirty interested persons, held at the British Council Centre on December 28, 1959. The meeting adopted a constitution approved by the parent Society in London, and formed an interim Council to hold office until a General Meeting should be held. The following were elected to the Council:- President: Dr. J. R. Jones; Vice-Presidents: the Hon. Sir Tsun-nin Chau and Dr. L. T. Ride; Hon. Secretary: Mr. J. D. Duncanson; Hon. Treasurer: Mr. T. J. Lindsay; Hon. Editor of the Journal: Mr. J. L. Cranmer-Byng; other Councillors: Dr. Marjorie Topley and Messrs. James Liu, Holmes Welch, and G. B. Endacott. The Inaugural Meeting of the revived Branch was held on April 7, 1960, in the Loke Yew Hall of Hong Kong University. It was to have been presided over by H. E. the Governor, Sir Robert Black, K.C.M.G., O.B.E., had illness not prevented it. The Inaugural Address was delivered by Professor F. S. Drake, Professor of Chinese at Hong Kong University, on "The Study of Asia: a Heritage and a Task". On January 23, 1961, Sir Robert Black presided over a meeting of the Branch in his capacity as Patron, and thus restored a tradition after a lapse of a hundred years.' ** As incoming President, it is my honour on this occasion, twenty-three years later, to make a presentation to Dr. Topley on your behalf, in recognition of her work as President of the Society from 1972 onwards. But first I wish to speak about her own contribution to the formation of our Society and its work over nearly a quarter of a century. xiv ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1982 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/mk61z420p Dr. Topley has been our President for the past ten years, and was a Vice-President for six years before that. She has also been a Council Member since the establishment of the Branch in 1960. More than that, she was one of the persons instrumental in establishing the Society in that year. The contribution made by a number of persons during the preparations for re-establishing a Hong Kong Branch has not unnaturally been overshadowed by the leading role in our affairs played by our first distinguished President, the late Dr. J. R. Jones. It is now fitting to draw attention to the efforts also made by Dr. Topley and Mr. Cranmer-Byng at that time. Happily, some of the papers relating to that period are still available, and those who are interested may look at the copies in the attached folder. We propose, also, that they be included in a future issue of the Journal so that the facts are on permanent record. The papers show that from early 1958 on, Marjorie Topley and Jack Cranmer-Byng were trying to arouse interest in founding a Hong Kong Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. They approached Dr. Jones, who was then Legal Adviser to the Hong Kong & Shanghai Banking Corporation and had been a Council member of the North China Branch of the Society, to enlist his help in getting public support and in drawing up a constitution for the new branch. He expressed his personal interest and a willingness to canvas support among the business firms of the Colony. These preparations continued into 1959. In July of that year, at a meeting in his flat, Dr. Jones indicated that there had been promises of financial help from at least two of the leading business organisations but in his view at least $10,000 should be secured before the new Society should begin to function. Progress was reported to Sir Richard Winstadt, President of the Royal Asiatic Society of London. He had written a little earlier to Dr. Topley in May 1959 expressing his support saying that he had also heard from Dr. Jones, and that the work of forming a new branch was seemingly being done in cooperation. The pattern of activity is clear from the papers. The original effort was made mainly by Marjorie and Jack, but enlisting the interest of the major business firms and obtaining the necessary financial support was the work of Dr. Jones who, by virtue of his XV Page 15 Page 16 ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1982 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/mk61z420p position in the community and long record of public service, was better able to perform this part of the preparatory work and to act as our first President. I turn now to Marjorie's more recent contributions to the Society. It is in the nature of things that most societies rely on a few persons for their inspiration and direction. We have been fortunate indeed in having Marjorie to guide our fortunes in the 1970s. Her scholarly reputation is international and it is no accident that we have always been able to attract speakers of high academic calibre for our lecture programme. We owe to her, too, the inspiration for many of our symposia. Seven of these are now in published form, three of them under her editorial pen. These symposia volumes deserve to be more widely known, especially at this time when interest in Hong Kong, its past, present and future are at a high peak, and when knowledge and appreciation of Hong Kong and its achievements and potential are, in a very real sense, crucial to that future. Those of us who have lived in Hong Kong these past 25 to 30 years cannot fail to have a keen sense of historical progress. In this time Hong Kong has progressed from being a "left-over" from history to a place with, if I am not mistaken, a mind and identity of its own, above all a place which deserves a future. In its own way our Society has assisted towards this development. We care about Hong Kong, and because of this have helped to document both its past and the change referred to above. Our contribution to the greater public knowledge and awareness of Hong Kong is surely a valuable one. It is certain that Dr. Topley has greatly assisted in this work. Thus, in thinking over what might be an appropriate parting gift from the Society, we considered that a bound set of the Symposia might be the most fitting and perhaps most appreciated gift that the Council could contrive. On your behalf, I now present them to Dr. Topley with every sentiment and appreciation of goodwill.* * Plate 1. xvi JAMES HAYES ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1982 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/mk61z420p # ADDRESS BY REV. CARL T. SMITH, AT THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING, 17TH FEBRUARY 1983 Besides Dr. Topley, the Society has, as you know, also lost the services of Mr. Rydings who has not stood again as Hon. Librarian on account of his expected retirement from his University post later this year. It is my privilege to say a few words and to make a presentation on behalf of the Society on this doubly sad occasion. Mr. Rydings, as you all know, has presided over the fortunes of the University of Hong Kong Libraries for twenty years, a period of constant change and expansion. Yet he has found time to be our Hon. Librarian for much of this period, in fact from 1965. It has not been a nominal occupancy, for he has built up our Library Collection and arranged for the books to be available to members on loan. He has corresponded frequently on our behalf with his colleagues abroad, and some of his findings, besides articles of his own, have appeared in the Journal. He has, besides, also produced a comprehensive catalogue for the books, papers and periodicals in our Library, which has appeared in two editions and two supplements, culminating in the edition published towards the end of 1982. An index of the contents of the Journal 1961-70 appeared in 1972, and the second ten-year index will be completed shortly. Tony has also served for a time as Vice President, and with Ian Diamond was largely responsible for the initiative and hard work that resulted in our publication on old buildings that appeared in 1980. It will be obvious from this catalogue if I may use the word in another sense of his activities that Tony has given generously of his time and energies to the Society whilst his wise advice on the Council will also be missed. It is with much pleasure, then, that I make this presentation on your behalf. Perhaps I should add that it is of photographic equipment, selected by himself at our request, and that we hope it may enable him, whilst still in Hong Kong, to rescue a few more old buildings from total oblivion!* * Plate 2. CARL SMITH xvii ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1982 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/mk61z420p Page 363 ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY HONG KONG BRANCH MEMBERSHIP LIST AS AT 31ST DECEMBER, 1982* PATRON: H.E. SIR EDWARD YOUDE, G.C.M.G., M.B.E., GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG. HONORARY MEMBERS THE AIDE-DE-CAMP LAM, Mr. Y. F. LAWRY, Mr. R.E. MACLEHOSE, Baron O'HARA, Mrs. M. TOPLEY, Dr. M. YOUDE, Sir Edward ALLEYNE, Mrs. E.L. BOARD, Mr. D.B.M. BONSALL, Mr. G.W. BUTT, Dr. N.S.G. LOCAL LIFE MEMBERS CALCINA, Mr. P.G. CHAMBERS, Mr. J.W. CHAN, Mr. A.T. CHENG, Mr. T.C. CHIU, Dr. L.Y. CHOA, Dr. G.H. CHUN, Miss O.L. COMBER, Mr. L. CRAMER, Mr. B.L.C. CRONE, Dr. D.L. DJOU, Mr. G.G. DUNCAN, Mrs. J. EMERSON, Mr. G.C. EVANS, Mr. P.J. EVANS, Mrs. P.J. FAULKNER, Mr. R.J. FOK, Miss N. FREMANTLE, Mr. A. FRY, Mr. R.A. FUNG, Mrs. L. FUNG, Sir Kenneth P.F. GAFF, Mrs. J.A. GILKES, Mr. D. GORDON, The Hon. Sir S.S. GREEN, Mrs. J. HASE, Dr. P.H. HAYES, Dr. J.W. HAYIM, Mr. E.J. HO, Mr. T. HONEY, Dr. N.R. HOPKINSON, Mrs. I. HOTUNG, Mr. J.E. HOWARD, Mr. W.J. HOWNAM-MEEK, Mr. R.S. HOYNINGEN-HUENE, Baron T. von HU, Dr. S.H. HUI, Miss W.H. HUNG, Mr. C.S. IU, Miss S. KINOSHITA, Mr. J.H. KVAN, Rev. E. LAI, Mr. T.Y. LAU, Mr. M.W.M. LAWRENCE, Mrs. B.M.L. LEE, Mr. J.S. LEE, Dr. R.C. LEE, Mrs. S.J. LETHBRIDGE, Mr. H.J. LEUNG, Mr. P.K. LI, Mr. D.K.P. LIU, Mr. D.H. LO, Mr. T.S. LOSEBY, Miss P. LUK, Mr. G.P.C. LUM, Miss A. MACKENZIE, Mr. J. MACKEOWN, Dr. P.K. MARDEN, Mrs. J.L. McCRARY, Mr. M. MCKEIRNAN, Rev. M. MCINTYRE, Mr. W.M. NORONHA, Mr. J.E. OGDEN, Mr. B.J.N. OU, Miss G. PAIN, Mr. J.H. PICCUS, Mr. R.P. RAE, Mr. J.A. RAWLINSON, Mr. M.C. RAYNER, Mrs. C.M. RIDE, Lady May RUST, Mr. H.A. RYDINGS, Mr. H.A. SEED, Mr. B. *Honours and Decorations of Members are not noted in this list. Page 363 ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1982 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/mk61z420p Plate 1. Dr. James Hayes presents a memento to Dr. Marjorie Topley, outgoing President. ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1983 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/j9607p61v 136 Sources on population are given in Marjorie Topley and James Hayes, "Notes on Temples and Shrines of Tai Ping Shan Street Area" in Topley (ed), op cit, pp. 123-141, at p. 124. 20 Topley, op cit, p. 139. These and other details are given in Topley, op cit, pp. 123-125 and 136-139. * See note 5 above. Whilst the Kung sor is still in existence a school building (R) on the other side of the temple has been pulled down. See the photograph p. 72, 58 in the Urban Council's 1982 publication, The Hong Kong Album. For a historical account of this area see Revd. Carl T. Smith's note on "The Five Terraces" with Li Po Lung Path, in "Programme Notes for Visits to Older Parts of Hong Kong Island (Urban Areas)," in JHKBRAS 14(1974) pp. 197-199. + + There is a possible confusion here. If the three powers of nature are intended it would be, without A. If truly 三聖公 it could refer to Yao, Shun and Yû or Yü, Chou Kung and Confucius (W.F. Mayers, The Chinese Reader's Manual, (Shanghai, American Presbyterian Mission Press, 1874) pp. 301-302.) I am grateful to liaison staff of the City District Office, Western, who obtained the information on this shrine for me in 1974. The 1841 estimate comes from the first Hong Kong census of May 1841. The remaining figures, taken from later census returns and other sources, can conveniently be found in Hayes 1983, p. 253 note 21. 10 Tung Tai Kai and its eastern adjunct Ah Kung Ngam together had four temples. There were large Tin Hau and Tam Kung temples in the Street. To its front, built on rocks in the sea and therefore known as the Hoi Sum Temple (or temple in the sea), was another smaller, older Tin Hau temple which for long has been completely hemmed in by squatter boats. On the east was the fourth of these temples, dedicated to Yuk Kung (Jade King). Tablets and other dated material inside the temples, together with other information, show that they date as far back as the 1860s, 1905, the 1890s and the 1840s respectively, at the least. See my note "Visit to Old Shau Kei Wan --- 24th May 1969" in JHKBRAS 10(1970), pp. 183-88. * Sessional Papers 1901, No. 39/1901, p. 18, Table XII. Like most of the Shau Kei Wan villages, the residents were mainly stonecutters. For the quarries see JHKBRAS 10(1970) p. 186 in the Note cited above (note 36). * Information from Mr. Walter Schofield, Hong Kong Civil Service 1911-38. * Sessional Papers 1901, No. 39/1901, p. 18, Table XII. * See Endacott's History of Hong Kong. p. 293 and Edward Szczepanik The Economic Growth of Hong Kong (London, Oxford University Press, 1958) p. 114. It will be obvious that this article could not have been written without the assistance of many people. I gratefully acknowledge their assistance here. I also wish to thank Dr. Patrick Hase, editor of this Journal, for much encouragement and good advice in its presentation. ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1985 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/gt54s866x 15. Mr. F.A. Nixon with, from left, Dr. J.R. Jones, Dr. Marjorie Topley, and at right, Sir Lindsay Ride, at the tenth anniversary of the Society in November 1970. ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1996 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/3n209j641 251 PAST PRESIDENTS DAN WATERS Since our Branch was resuscitated we have been fortunate in having a number of distinguished Presidents who put in considerable time and effort towards the running of our Branch. Some of them have, or had, scholarly reputations of international standing. We remain grateful to them. Our Past Presidents, together with their years in office, are listed below: Dr. J. R. Jones, C.B.E., M.C., M.A., LL.D., J.P. 1960-1969 Sir Lindsay Ride, C.B.E., E.D., M.A., Hon. LL.D., J.P., 1969-1972 Dr Marjorie Topley, B.Sc.(Econ), Ph.D., 1972-1983 Dr. James W. Hayes, L.S.O., M.A.(Lond.), Ph.D.(Lond.), Hon. D. Litt. (HK), J.P. 1983-1990 Mr David A. Gilkes, M.B.E., M.A., C.A., J.P., 1990-1996 According to our Constitution (Rule 11.), 'In addition to the elected Councillors all Past Presidents of the Society who are resident in Hong Kong shall be Members of the Council.' ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1997 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/wp98g7579 154 Schofield, a competent geologist, a good example of the colonial scholar-administrator, helped to map more than 100 sites with evidence of archaeological finds (Bard 1995: 383). Another well-known scholar, a big man in every sense of the word, who served the Hong Kong Government from 1932 to 1969, was K. M. A. Barnett. As a jovial, erudite scholar who managed to master various Chinese dialects, this larger than life personality received a severe beating at the hands of the Japanese for volunteering information to a Red Cross team which came to inspect a prisoner-of-war camp in Hong Kong during World War II. Ken Barnett, who in prison camp had difficulty, according to Dr Solomon Bard another inmate, in finding people with whom he could play "mental chess", has fortunately left a few examples of his scholarship in RASHKB journals. When the Branch was re-established, in 1959, Dr J. R. Jones (J. R. as he was known to most of us) became its founding President. As well as being a good all-rounder in the heritage field, he too was a linguist. Dr Jones was followed as President by Sir Lindsay Ride, a Rhodes Scholar and, from 1949 to 1964, Vice Chancellor of Hong Kong University. During World War II he escaped from a prisoner-of-war camp in Hong Kong and, from a base in China, served with the British Army Aid Group. One of his best known pieces of research, which he undertook together with his wife Lady May (also a long time member of the RASHKB), was about the East India Cemetery and protestant burials in Macao (Ride 1996). The third RASHKB President was Dr Marjorie Topley, an anthropologist. She too was recognised internationally and a number of her papers may be seen in our Branch's journals. Dr James Hayes, who first joined the Branch back in 1961, served all but about six years of his membership period in Hong Kong as an office bearer. He did not step down as President until 1990, when he emigrated to Australia. There are more contributions by Dr Hayes in the Branch's journals than by any other author. He too has an international reputation as a scholar, and, in 1992, an Honorary Doctorate of Letters was bestowed on him by the University of Hong Kong for his work in the field of local history. For him, the Royal ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1997 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/wp98g7579 181 HONORARY MEMBERS DAN WATERS In 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. Previously, 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. Rule 9 of the Constitution reads: Persons 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... David 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. James 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. With 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. The first person to be made an Honorary Member was Sir Robert ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1997 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/wp98g7579 182 Black, Governor of Hong Kong and Patron of the Branch when it was re-established in 1960, In his letter dated 28 February, 1964, to Dr J.R. Jones, Sir Robert wrote: ...I feel very honoured to have been admitted to be the first Honorary Member of the Hong Kong Branch of the Society and I should like to take this opportunity of expressing my appreciation for the courtesy of yourself and the Members of the Council in so admitting me Signed: Sir Robert Black Other Patrons of the Branch who were later made Honorary Members include past governors Sir Murray (later Lord) Maclehose and Sir Edward Youde. A great deal of the work in reconstituting the Branch, in 1960, was carried out by Dr Marjorie Topley and Professor Granmer-Byng. In addition to Marjorie Topley who has been mentioned above, Granmer-Byng was also made an Honorary Member. Mr R.E. Lawry, another founder member of the Branch, was also made an Honorary Member. Most of the above Councillors undertook research and published and some of their work may be read in past editions of the Branch's Journals. In the case of some, such as James Hayes and Marjorie Topley, they published internationally. Other persons who have in the past been made Honorary Members include Lady Pamela Youde and Mr Lam Yung-fai, an active Member of the Society and printer of the Branch's Journals for many years. Mrs Margaret O'Hara, who at one time worked for the British Council was responsible for a great deal of the RAS's administrative work in earlier years. She too was made an Honorary Member and she still takes part in Branch functions. In addition to all the above Honorary Members the Reverend Carl Smith was made an Honorary Vice President, under rule 9 of the Constitution, at the 1997 Annual General Meeting. Carl Smith was elected to the Council in 1975 and still sits on the Council. He was first made a Vice President in 1976. He is respected internationally as a scholar specialising in Hong Kong history. Page 210 Page 211 ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1999 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/s178b887x THE ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY (HONG KONG BRANCH) ONE-DAY CONFERENCE Hong Kong: Forty Years of a Growing City Saturday 9 December 2000 OPENING ADDRESS DR DAN WATERS ISO BBS, PRESIDENT 235 (This Conference was organised jointly by the RASHKB and the Hong Kong Museum of History to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the reconstitution of the Hong Kong Branch. The Conference was held at the Museum of History.) I am highly honoured to address you all today as we near the close of our 40th anniversary year. As you must know our Branch was re-formed in 1960, after a hiatus of a century. A very warm welcome to everyone. I have received messages from Dr Marjorie Topley, Dr James Hayes and Mr David Gilkes, all past presidents. They sent their best wishes for a successful conference. The RASHKB Group of ‘Friends’ in Britain, has sent us a congratulatory Card. If I had been born in the computer age the chances are I would be reading this address from a portable electric brain, as a computer is termed in Cantonese. But several of us taking part in this conference were born many years earlier. Indeed some of us have lived in Hong Kong for longer than the 40-year period (1960 to 2000), which we are reviewing here today. But continuing with my introduction: may I say that some of the most successful events our Branch has organised, especially in the 1960s and early '70s, were our one day and weekend symposia (see Appendix). A previous Honorary Secretary, R E Lawry, first proposed them when a small group of RAS members, in October 1963, was walking back to Silvermine Bay. Of course it was on a hill path as the first road on Lantao, or rather track, had only been constructed a few years earlier in order to build Shek Pik Reservoir. ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1999 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/s178b887x 239 Two important things happened in October 1971: firstly, men were no longer allowed to take concubines and, secondly, every person had to have at least one full day off work a week. Up until then people in small Chinese firms frequently laboured seven days a week with a few days off at Lunar New Year and odd days off at major Chinese festivals - like Dragon Boat and Mid Autumn Festival. People Enough about statistics: what about RAS members who made things happen? I will always remember Dr J R Jones CBE, MC, MA, LL.D, JP, who served as our President from the time our Branch was reconstituted until 1970. I first met J R in early 1955 at a Dante Alighieri (the Italian Society) meeting. Then I learned he had a penchant for things antiquarian as well as languages — although he spoke little Chinese. There are a few short pieces written by him in early RAS Journals. I remember him in a pinstripe, blue suit and, although fairly tall, he could be described as dapper, polished and a ladies' man. He was gentlemanly, personable and, as such, made a splendid RAS ‘front man.' Much of the work behind the scenes, such as setting up the reconstituted Branch in 1960, was in fact done by Dr Marjorie Topley and Jack Cranmer-Byng, Honorary Editor. Marjorie Topley became our President in 1972. Dr Jones had led an interesting life including serving King, Country and Empire in two world wars, as well as helping to organise the Ukrainian Army soon after the end of World War One. He also went on archaeological expeditions to Italy and Africa. As a lawyer he practised at the High Court in London and later in Shanghai. In Hong Kong he was legal advisor to The Bank, as he always referred to the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank. In fact he advised 'the Bank' to buy a number of paintings by George Chinnery (1774 to 1852). The latter is often said to have been the most accomplished western artist to have worked in the East in the 19th century. These paintings, which the Bank purchased, were a splendid investment. In addition, JR sat on a number of government ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-2000 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/nk328168n ... we do the general view was (see volume I of HKBRAS Journal)". not go out into the highways and byways to recruit members..." As a well-qualified member of staff at the University of Hong Kong said to me during the past year, 'In the 1960s, it was not easy to join the HKBRAS. It was quite exclusive. Meetings were usually held in the Hong Kong Club.' Since the Hand Over of Hong Kong, from Britain to China, we have had a recruitment drive. This has paid off. It was necessary largely because of the appreciable drop in numbers with many members leaving the Territory. With about 73 per cent of our members being aged between 40 and 60, we were pleased, during 2000/2001, to see a few of our younger members playing active parts. I have special pleasure in thanking Moody Tang, Josephine Wong, and Crystal Tang for their assistance. Our Society needs more younger people taking part to leaven the membership. Continuing, it gives me great pleasure to report that our long-serving Vice President, Dr Elizabeth Sinn, was awarded a Bronze Bauhinia Star in the Hong Kong SAR 2000 Honours List for her work in the field of Heritage. We like to believe consideration was also given to her related work as a long-time office bearer of our Branch where her contribution has been considerable: Congratulations Elizabeth! I also have great pleasure in congratulating one of our members for 'pushing back the frontiers of knowledge.' She is Dr Sheilah Hamilton. As a mature student, she received her doctoral degree from the University of Hong Kong. Very well done! During the course of the year, we were delighted to receive a letter from Dr Marjorie Topley who played a leading part in the re-establishment of our Branch in 1960. We have also kept in touch with Dr James Hayes and Mr David Gilkes. All three served as presidents. All three are now Honorary Members. On a sadder note, we are sorry to record the passing, at 82, of Lord Murray MacLehose who held the distinctions of being not only the longest-serving governor but also one of Hong Kong's greatest achievers. He was our HKBRAS Patron from 1971 to 1982 and, later, we were proud to bestow honorary membership upon him. In a letter to our Branch, Lady MacLehose wrote: "The many generous tributes to XV ================================================================================