RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1962 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/9s166f47f 127 ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY HONG KONG BRANCH List of Members at 16th May, 1962. ABRAHAM, R. D. · AIDE-DE-CAMP - ALLEYNE, Mrs. E. L. · BAIRD, John W. BARD, Dr. S. M. BARNETT, K. M. A. BARON, D. W. B. BARR, John S. · BARTON, Hon. H. D. M. BASTO, Gerald De. - - 41, Island Road, Deep Water Bay, Hong Kong. Government House, Hong Kong. University of Hong Kong, Pokfulum, Hong Kong. c/o Jardine, Matheson & Co., Ltd. Hong Kong. Hong Kong University, Pokfulum, Hong Kong. P. O. Box 248, Hong Kong. 361 The Peak, Hong Kong. c/o Chung Chi College, Ma Liu Shui, Shatin. Jardine, Matheson & Co., Ltd. Hong Kong. 604 Fu House, 7 Ice House Street, Hong Kong. BEDWELL, Miss Elizabeth c/o H.K. Housing Authority, G. P. O. BERTUCCIOLI, Giuliano BIRNBAUM, Mrs. Sylvia Daniels BLACK, Donald BLACKMORE, Michael BLUE, A. D. - BLUNDEN, Prof. E. C. BONSALL, G. W. BORGEEST, Gus BRAGA, J. M. - BREUIL, N. du Mrs. BROOKS, D. E. BRUUN, Frederick T. BURKHARDT, Col. V. R. - BYRNE, Desmond J. Building, T/F. · Italian Embassy, Tokyo, Japan. 7, Braga Circuit, Kowloon. Peat, Marwick Mitchell & Co., Alexandra House 8/F. Dept. of History, H.K. University, Pokfulum, H.K. c/o China Navigation Co., Butterfield & Swire. The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulum, Hong Kong. Flat 3, 94-D, Pokfulum Road, Hong Kong. P. O. Box 1058, Hong Kong. P. O. Box 951, Hong Kong. 86, Main Street, Stanley, Hong Kong. Radio Hong Kong, Hong Kong. 908, Takshing House, Hong Kong. 86, Main Street, Stanley, Hong Kong. c/o China Light & Power Co., Ltd. Argyle Street, Kowloon. BENHAM, Miss M. E. M. Harcourt Health Centre, Morrison Hill Rd., Hong Kong. CALCINA, P. G. Commercial Investment Co., Ltd. Union House, 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 # ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY # HONG KONG BRANCH ## List of Members on the 9th April, 1963 ### Patron: His Excellency Sir Robert Black, G.C.M.G., O.B.E. ABRAHAM, R. D.* - 41, Island Road, Deep Water Bay, H.K. AIDE-DE-CAMP, The - Government House, Garden Road, H.K. ALLEYNE, Mrs. E. L. - University of Hong Kong, Pokfulum, H.K. ARMERDING, L. E.* - 11, Creasy Road, Jardine's Lookout, H.K. BADAMS, P. W. M. - c/o H.K. & Shanghai Bank, H.K. (Trustee) BAIRD, John W. - Ltd., Shell House, 6th Floor, H.K. BARD, Dr. S. M. - c/o Jardine, Matheson & Co., Ltd., H.K. BARNETT, K. M. A. - University of Hong Kong, Pokfulum, H.K. BARON, D. W. B. - P. O. Box 248, H.K. BARR, John S. - 30 Severn Road, H.K. BARTON, Hon. H. D. M. - c/o Chung Chi College, Ma Liu Shui, N.T. BASHALL, Mrs. C. G. - Jardine, Matheson & Co., Ltd., H.K. BASTO, Gerald De - c/o H.M. Prison, Stanley, H.K. BEDWELL, Miss E. - 604 Fu House, 7 Ice House Street, H.K. BENANZIO, Dr. M. - c/o H.K. Housing Authority, G.P.O. Bldg., Top Floor, H.K. BENHAM, Miss M. E. M. - c/o Italian Embassy, Djalan Diponegoro 47, Djakarta, Indonesia, BERTOVICH, Miss Ruth C. - Harcourt Health Centre, Morrison Hill Road, H.K. BERTUCCIOLI, Dr. G. - c/o The American Consulaic-General, 26 Garden Road, H.K. BIRNBAUM, Mrs. S. D. + - Italian Embassy, Tokyo, Japan. BLACK, D. - 7, Braga Circuit, Kowloon. BLACKMORE, M. - "Hacienda", Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland. BLUE, A. D. - Department of History, The University, H.K. BLUNDEN, Prof. E. C. - "Upper Woodburn", 19 Millig Street, Helensburgh, Scotland. BONSALL, G. W. - The University, Pokfulum, H.K. BORGEEST, G. - Flat 3, 94-D Pokfulum Road, H.K. P. O. Box 1058, H.K. * Life Member Please notify the Hon Secretary of any inaccuracy Page 165 Page 166 ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1964 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/qz20zx09r 158 DANSEY-BROWNING, Lt. Col. G. C. - Government Ophthalmic Centre, Arran St., Mongkok, Kowloon. DANSEY-BROWNING, Mrs. S. M. - c/o The European Y.M.C.A., Salisbury Rd., Kowloon. DAVIES, D. G. - Flat 5, 94D, Pokfulum Road, H.K. DAVIS, Dr. S. G. - Dept. of Geography & Geology, The University, H.K. DEANS PEGGS, Dr. A. - c/o Education Department, Battery Path, H.K. DJOU, G. G. - c/o American International Assnce. Co., Ltd., 12-14 Queen's Road, Central, H.K. DOLBY, A. W. E. - Flat A1, 9th Floor, 2 Oaklands Path, H.K. DONEGAN, Miss P. L. - American Consulate-General, Hong Kong. DONOHUE, P. - 31, George St., Mablethorpe, Lincs., England. DRAKE, Mrs. F. S. - Lincot, Stoke Road, North Curry, Taunton, Somerset, England. DRAKE, Prof. F. S. - As above. DRAKEFORD, L. S. - 25 Chatham Road, 11th Floor, Front, Kowloon. DUNCANSON, J. D.* - c/o The British Embassy, Saigon, Vietnam. DUNT, P. - P. O. Box 94, H.K. EDWARDS, O. P. - c/o H.K. & Shanghai Banking Corpn. H.K. EITZEN, Mrs. J. - 22 Magazine Gap Road, Hong Kong. ELLISON, K. - c/o Housing Authority, G.P.O. Building, H.K. ELWOOD, O. J. O. - A-4, Royden Court, 129 Repulse Bay Rd., H.K. ENDACOTT, G. B. - Warden, May Hall, The University, H.K. ENGEL, Dr. D. - 542, Alexandra House, Hong Kong. EVANS, Mrs. P. J. - Ray-O-Vac International Corpn., 604 Chartered Bank Building, H.K. EVANS, Mrs. P. J. - 33 Tung Tau Wan Road, Stanley, H.K. EWING, Miss E.* - 13, Rodmarton Street, London, W.1. England. FABER, Mrs. A. - 10, Cooper Road, Jardine's Lookout, H.K. FABER, S. E. - 1 Repulse Bay Road, H.K. FAERBER, M. - c/o Paragon Book Gallery, 140 East 59th Street, New York 22, N.Y., U.S.A. * 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 140 SELLETT, G.* SHEKURY, Miss E. SHING, D. SHEPHARD, A. J. SHU, Dr. H. T. SHUI, Chien-tung SIEGEL, H. W. SIKORA, F. SIMPSON, R. F. SINFIELD, G. H. C. SKELSON, Mrs. M. C. SKELSON, R. E. SLEVIN, B. SMALL, Dr. D. H. SMITH, Miss A. M. SMITH, L.* SMITH, L. A. SMITH, Miss M. H. SMITH, S. H.* SOONG, N. SPERRY, H. M.* STANLEY, Major H. F. STANTON, W. T.* STEWART, Miss E. M. "Pinecrest", N.K.I.L. 3543 Tai Po Road, Kowloon. 14 Braga Circuit, Kowloon. Florida Mansion, Block C, 11th Floor, Paterson Street, H.K. Administrative Officer, Police H.Q., H.K. 70 Mt. Davis Road, Ground floor, H.K. Tsing Hua College, 263 Prince Edward Road, Kowloon, c/o Bayer China Co., Ltd., Room 1916 Union House, H.K. 29 South Bay Road, H.K. Dept. of Education, The University, H.K. H.K. Telephone Co., Ltd., Prince's Building, H.K. c/o The Hong Kong Club, H.K. As above. c/o 1st floor, Police Headquarters, Arsenal Street, H.K. Dental Unit, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kowloon. 512 King's Park House, Gascoigne Road, Kowloon. 23-A Robinson Road, H.K. 2741, SW 22nd Ave. Coconut Grove, Miami 33, Florida, U.S.A. 19 Peak Mansions, The Peak, H.K. c/o Messrs. Scott & English Ltd., P. O. Box 1555, H.K. Asia Magazine, 31 Queen's Road, Central, H.K. 2, Queen's Road, Central, H.K. H.K. Tourist Assn., Caroline Mansion, H.K. Dina House, Duddell Street, H.K. c/o The Housing Manager, Hong Kong Housing Authority, Ma Tau Wei Estate, Kowloon, Queen's College, Causeway Bay, H.K. Flat 1, "Ravencourt", 24 Mount Austin Rd., H.K. STOKES, J. STONEY, G. S. STONEY, Mrs. G. S. As above. * 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-1966 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/bz60k0811 185 SCHWARZ, Miss Marjorie D.* SCOTT, A. C. SCOTT, J. M. SELLERS, D. SELLETT, G.* SHAW-KENNEDY, Miss Anne SHEKURY, Miss E. SHEPHARD, A. J. SHING, D.- SHU, Dr. H. T. - SHUI, Chien tung SIEGEL, H. W. SINFIELD, G. H. C.* SLEVIN, B. SMALL, Dr. D. H. SMITH, Leslie* SMITH, Miss M. H. SMITH, S. H.* SOONG, N. - J + - c/o Mrs. R. L. Smyth, 1635 Green Street, San Francisco, California, USA. Asian Theatre Program, University of Wisconsin, U.S.A. Hong Kong & Shanghai Banking Corp., H.K. c/o Dept. of Commerce & Industry, Fire Brigade Building, H.K. "Pinecrest", N.K.I.L. 3543 Tai Po Road, Kowloon. Room 812 Hilton Hotel, H.K. 14 Braga Circuit, Kowloon. Administrative Officer, Police H.Q., H.K. Florida Mansion, Block C, 11th Floor, Paterson Street, H.K. 70 Mt. Davis Road, Ground floor, H.K. Tsing Hua College, 263 Prince Edward Road, Kowloon. c/o Bayer China Co., Ltd., Room 1916 Union House, H.K. c/o Royal Bank of Canada, 20 King Street, West, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. c/o 1st floor, Police Headquarters, Arsenal Street, H.K. Dental Unit, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kowloon. Flat 10-B, Dragon View, 39-41 MacDonnell Road, H.K. 52 Mount Nicholson Gap Flat, H.K. c/o Messrs. Scott & English Ltd., P. O. Box 1555, H.K. Asia Magazine, 31 Queen's Road, Central, H.K. 2. Queen's Road, Central, H.K. H.K. Tourist Assn., Caroline Mansion, H.K. SPERRY, H. M.* STANLEY, Major H. F. STANTON, W. T.* STEWART, Miss Elizabeth H. STEWART, Miss E. M. STOKES, J. STONEY, G. S. STONEY, Mrs. G. S. + Dina House, Duddell Street, H.K. Diocesan Girls' School, Jordan Road, Kowloon, c/o The Housing Manager, Hong Kong Housing Authority, Ma Tau Wei Estate, Kowloon. Queen's College, Causeway Bay, H.K. Flat 1, "Ravencourt", 24 Mount Austin Rd., H.K. As above. * 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-1972 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/gm80qf99h REVIEW OF HOUSING CONDITIONS IN HONG KONG 113 of HK$2.5 million was made by government to the Society and by the end of 1971 this figure had increased to HK$179 million. Future schemes, however, will be financed from the income derived from rents. Sites are provided by government at one-third the market value. The Society provides homes for families with monthly incomes of up to HK$1,000 and by March 1971 had provided homes for some 110,000 persons (Figure 7). The Hong Kong Housing Authority which was formed in 1954 has also made a significant contribution towards meeting the colony's housing needs. The Authority operates much on the same lines as the Housing Society and started off with a government loan of HK$50 million. By the end of 1970 loans totalling HK$250 million had been made available by government to the Authority, and for future schemes the income derived from rents is expected to provide the principal source of capital. Families with incomes of between HK$500 and $1,250 per month are eligible to apply for accommodation in Housing Authority estates which, by March 1971, accommodated 194,000 persons. In both Housing Authority and Housing Society estates accommodation is provided on the basis of 35 sq. ft. of usable floor space per adult and half this for children under the age of 10 years. In quantitative terms, the most notable results in the provision of public housing have been accomplished through the efforts of the government's resettlement programme which got under way in 1954 with the object of clearing land occupied by squatters and making it available for development, largely for housing estates for the families so displaced. The resettlement programme now also provides accommodation for persons made homeless by the demolition of dangerous buildings and by other emergencies. Initially, accommodation in resettlement estates was provided on the basis of 24 sq. ft. of usable floor area per adult and half of this for children. This allocation was increased to 35 sq. ft. in 1968, thus bringing standards in line with those in other types of government and government-aided housing. There are no income limits for households that become eligible for resettlement. By 1971 almost one million persons were living in resettlement estates, which represents about 25% of the total population. A further type of subsidised housing was introduced by the government in 1961 to provide accommodation upon application ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1972 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/gm80qf99h E. G. PRYOR for households with monthly incomes of less than HK$300 per month. In 1970, the monthly family income limit was increased to HK$600. Over the period 1965-1971 some 187,000 persons benefited from government low-cost housing schemes. From the above, it will be seen that government and government-aided housing provided accommodation for 1.5 million persons in 1971 (Figure 7). It is thus evident that the administration is taking seriously its responsibilities towards providing homes for lower-income families. Indeed, Table 1 shows that between 1965 and 1970 government and the other two main housing agencies built more domestic units than private developers, so that by the end of that period the total amount of subsidised accommodation was greater than the total in the private sector (Table 2). The significance of this achievement is brought into sharper perspective when it is considered that the provision of housing by government, the Housing Authority, and the Housing Society on such a vast scale has been accomplished only since 1951. However, whilst in quantitative terms these efforts have been impressive by any measure, there is scope for qualitative improvements. In this context, many of the older resettlement estates are now in need of modernisation, and this is a future task which the government has plans to undertake. There is also an increasing awareness of the need to ensure that large housing estates, especially in the new towns of Tsuen Wan, Castle Peak, and Shatin, need to be designed and built on a comprehensive basis with a view to the creation of a wholesome environment that provides for the many diverse forms of human activity. Unfortunately, this approach could not be followed in the development of many of the earlier estates, which had to be built on an emergency basis. The needs of the rural population for decent housing have also had to be held in abeyance, but this matter is now receiving closer attention. Whilst the government can be expected to continue to play a significant role in the provision of housing, the achievement of private developers over the immediate past years indicates that a substantial contribution from this sector can be expected in future, given stable economic and political conditions (Table 1). However, some concern must be expressed over the distribution of government and private housing, for whereas the bulk of private residential accommodation is located in the old congested districts of Hong Kong Island North Page 120 Page 121 ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1972 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/gm80qf99h POPULATION 2 MILLION 1 MILLION 500,000 100,000 50,000 10,000 5,000 YEAR ENDING 195 31ST MARCH REVIEW OF HOUSING CONDITIONS IN HONG KONG TOTAL SETTLEMENT I GOVERNMENT LOW COST HOUSING HOUSING AUTHORITY & HOUSING SOCIETY 1940 1965 1970 SOURCES ANNUAL REPORTS OF RESETTLEMENT DEPT., HOUSING AUTHORITY & HOUSING SOCIETY POPULATION IN GOVERNMENT & GOVERNMENT-AIDED HOUSING ESTATES – HONG KONG : 1955-1970 FIG. 7 123 ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1972 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/gm80qf99h TABLE 1 DOMESTIC UNITS PRODUCED BY GOVERNMENT GOVERNMENT-AIDED BODIES & PRIVATE DEVELOPERS IN HONG KONG PRIVATE DEVELOPERS METROPOLITAN AREA — 1965/1970 GOVERNMENT & GOVT.—AIDED BODIES REVIEW OF HOUSING CONDITIONS IN HONG KONG Year Ending December House Large Flats Medium Flats Small Tenement Flats Floors Others Sub-total H.K. H.K. Housing Authority Housing Society Govt. Low Cost Housing Resettlement Estates Sub-total Grand Total 1965 23 1,083 1,453 4,308 20,739 542 1966 19 1,114 963 6,310 21,902 1,009 31,317 1,533 4,817 3,974 15,019 25,343 53,491 1967 29 349 467 3,261 13,200 444 17,750 1968 3 301 125 4,210 5,392 15 10,046 244 1,294 416 1,731 2,999 934 458 19,341 1,982 28,282 21,337 52,654 1969 7 55 393 2,631 4,225 453 7,764 1,430 8,620 10,832 20,882 28,646 1970 21 210 476 4,212 6,194 27 11,140 5,740 1,542 4,314 1,829 13,425 24,565 Total 102 3,112 3,877 24,932 71,652 2,490 106,165 12,362 10,318 26,085 88,193 136,958 243,132 Increase Source: Commissioner of Rating & Valuation Property Review 1971, Hong Kong, 1971 125 ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1972 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/gm80qf99h TABLE 2 DISTRIBUTION OF PERMANENT DOMESTIC UNITS BY MAIN SOURCES OF SUPPLY - HONG KONG METROPOLITAN AREA - DECEMBER 1970 PRIVATE SECTOR GOVERNMENT & GOVT.—AIDED HOUSING Grand Total Houses & Large Flats Medium Flats Flats Small Tenement Workers Floors Quarters Sub-Total H.K. Housing Authority H.K. Housing Society Govt. Low Cost Housing Resettlement Housing Govt. Quarters Sub-Total Pre-war 1,450 1,500 950 24,500 28,400 28,400 Post-war 8,200 13,700 59,100 172,000 4,600 257,600 33,100 18,800 33,600 214,700 11,000 311,200 311,200 Total 9,650 15,200 60,050 196,500 4,600 286,000 597,200 % of Grand Total 1.6 2.5 10.1 32.9 0.8 47.9 5.6 3.1 5.6 36.0 1.8 52.1 Source: Ibid E. G. PRYOR ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1972 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/gm80qf99h 212 NOTES AND QUERIES with offices, belonging to Messrs. Butterfield & Swire, whose Chinese style, Tai Ku (★‡) 'Great and Ancient', gave rise to the name, Tai Ku Lau (= House) by which it was known to local Chinese. Its proper name was "Clanmore".† It was not a healthy site, probably the reason why the Company decided to sell the property. Father Trivière writes: The Fathers, upon arrival, had taken measures to improve sanitation. These included general hygiene, drainage, the felling of trees, the cutting back of bush, the planting of eucalyptus and camphor trees, thanks to which an improvement in the situation was expected, bringing with it the gradual disappearance of malaria. Unfortunately, things turned out otherwise. The French fathers were not successful in driving out malaria. It was, in fact, malaria which drove them out. The original house is no longer to be seen, but we shall walk round the site. At this point, I had hoped to show Members the fine waterfalls inside the Dairy Farm property opposite Tai Ku Lau, but the Company regrets that it is unable to grant entry because of restriction imposed as part of measures against animal disease. We shall return to the buses for the Wah Fu Estate (Hong Kong Housing Authority; 56,000 persons) and the Hong Kong Waterfall. This is featured in G. R. Sayer's book, Hong Kong: Birth, Adolescence & Coming of Age, published by Oxford in 1937. Sayer was a Hong Kong Administrative Cadet Officer, who served here for many years pre-war. The flow of water in the waterfall stream was affected by the construction of the Pokfulam Reservoir (1863 and enlarged in 1876 or thereabouts) and the waterfall may be seen in its former dimensions only after heavy rain. Plans are in hand to convert the area into a public garden and sitting out area. Hong Kong, July, 1972. † Jarrett. A sign post on site has 'Claymore'. JAMES HAYES ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1972 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/gm80qf99h Plate 12. The Wah Fu Tsuen housing scheme built by the Housing Authority is an exciting new scheme which demonstrates the potential of comprehensive development. (Photographs 1-5 are by courtesy of the Hong Kong Government, Information Services Department). ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1976 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/hq382988q # THE TEOCHIU: ETHNICITY IN URBAN HONG KONG ## TABLE II 51 Number of Land Domestic Households (household head being of Teochiu origin) By Type of Living Quarter (data from the 1971 Census) Type of Living Quarter No. of land domestic households Apartment flat 10,653 Tenement flat 16,508 Resettlement Estate 31,193 Government low cost housing 1,792 Housing Authority or Society housing 3,867 Stone Structures 4,780 Houses of one or 2 stories 474 Temporary Housing 8,099 Others 651 Total 78,017 ## TABLE III Teochiu Population Living on Land by Occupation 1971 Census Occupation No. of person Armed forces, unclassified, economically inactive & job-seekers 243,133 Farmers, Fisherfolk, etc. 3,155 Miners etc. 497 Service, sport and recreation workers 17,581 Transport and communication workers 9,460 Clerical and sales workers 29,113 Craftsmen, production workers & labourers 74,203 Administrative, executive & managerial workers 8,826 Artists, draughtsmen and technicians 2,173 Professional & technological workers 1,639 Total 389,780 ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1976 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/hq382988q 58 DOUGLAS W. SPARKS The study of relationships between Teochiu and other ethnic groups within the estate was obviously of relevance to my research. I became particularly interested in relationships between the Teochiu and Hoi Luk Fung, that is, people from two districts in Kwangtung directly south of Teochiu along the coast (海豐 and 陸豐). Hoi Luk Fung persons are the most similar to Teochiu among Chinese ethnic groups in Hong Kong in language, culture, and historical origins. It was initially perplexing that Teochiu in the housing estate disliked Hoi Luk Fung more intensely than any other ethnic group, and I very quickly became aware of sharp cognitive and interactional boundaries between the two groups. With increasing knowledge of northeastern Kwangtung, the area from which these people migrated, and of cognitive and social divisions within the estate, people from the border area between Hoi Luk Fung and Teochiu became an enigmatic social puzzle to me. These people are from an area called Kap Jih (P7), and there exists among Teochiu within the estate considerable variation and confusion as to the ethnic identity of these people. The confusion, of course, fuelled my interest and led to more questions and my eventual ability to view the categorization of Kap Jih in a more fluid and flexible manner, as did the Teochiu themselves. The resettlement estate is composed of about 67,000 residents, all of whom were resettled from squatter settlements into densely populated 16-storey blocks. Most of the residents have lived in this estate since it was constructed ten years ago, and many of them had lived in squatter settlements for many years prior to resettlement. Thus, my research did not focus upon problems of resettlement nor upon the adaptation of recent immigrants to an urban, industrial social setting. People living in the estate function within dense social networks which include relatives and friends within the estate, work colleagues, and friends and relatives living in other areas of Hong Kong. This is particularly true among the Teochiu segment of the housing estate population. Many Chinese ethnic groups are found within the estate. Housing Authority officials managing the estate do not have figures categorizing residents of this estate by ethnic group, but according to information from residents themselves, Cantonese are the largest and Teochiu the second largest ethnic group. According to Teochiu 1 A more detailed description of the ecology of the housing estate appears in my dissertation, ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1976 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/hq382988q 74 DOUGLAS W. SPARKS was always within the Hui Lai boundary until 1949 when the district government in Hoi Fung successfully petitioned the government to transfer authority of the village to Hoi Luk Fung. According to the historical materials discussed above, Kap Jih was never administratively subordinate to Hui Lai and was always administered by Luk Fung. I have found no other historical source to verify the transfer of a border village from Hui Lai, and I suspect that the claim was made to establish a link with Hui Lai and hence with the Teochiu population of the housing estate. This particular man identified himself to me as Teochiu. Considerable confusion exists among Teochiu as to the ethnic identity of local Kap Jih. Initially they were described to me as Hoi Luk Fung, presumably in order to simplify the local situation. Two men with some knowledge of the history and geography of Teochiu later explained to me that all of Kap Jih originally belonged to Hui Lai, and hence some Teochiu consider them to be Teochiu. Teochiu in the housing estate are mostly uneducated and are only vaguely familiar with Teochiu history. The belief that Kap Jih was once a part of Hui Lai permits some to more easily accept the former as Teochiu today. I was further told that people from other Teochiu districts not so close to Hoi Luk Fung considered Kap Jih to be Hoi Luk Fung. Many of the Teochiu in the associations classify Kap Jih as Teochiu, but there are also those who classify them as Hoi Luk Fung. The difference is primarily a function of participation in networks which include a number of Kap Jih. That is, those individuals who have friends who are Kap Jih and who interact with those friends in the context of interaction with fellow Teochiu, generally classify Kap Jih as Teochiu. Those people who classify Kap Jih as Hoi Luk Fung are less likely to have Kap Jih friends and are less active in the networks mentioned above. Kap Jih themselves have the option of labelling themselves as Teochiu or as Hoi Luk Fung. Most have chosen the Teochiu label and would strenuously deny that they are Hoi Luk Fung. A few individuals have chosen to retain both identities in different spheres of interaction. They are able to do so because Hoi Luk Fung claim Kap Jih as their own. Thus the only interethnic passing among Teochiu occurs when a Kap Jih person develops contacts within both ethnic communities. I have never heard of a person from Hui Lai attempting to become involved in Hoi Luk Fung networks and proclaiming a Hoi Luk Fung identity. There are ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1977 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/np198x23n 258 LIST OF MEMBERS ORDINARY MEMBERS: THOMA, Dr. R. - THOMAS, R. W. THOMAS, Mrs. S. E. THOMPSON, Mr. & Mrs. K. V. TISDALL, B. TOH, Miss E. TOMLIN, Mrs. S. TSANG, K. F. TSO, Mrs. P. TURNER, H. D. TWITCHETT, Miss Y. TYLER, Mr. & Mrs. M. R. - VEEVERS, Miss K. J. VETCH, Mr. & Mrs. H. - VINE, P. A. L. VISICK, Mrs. M. WALDEN, J. C. C., J.P. WALKER, D. C. WATERS, D. D. WATSON, Dr. J. L. WATT, James WATT, Mo-Kei WEN, Dr. Ch'ing-hsi WHOLEY, J. W. WILKINSON, Miss A. WILLIAMS, B. V. - 44 Mount Kellett Road, Mountain Lodge 3A, Hong Kong. 31 Conduit Road, 9/FL., Hong Kong. Rose Villa, Lot 369, 124 Miles Tai Po Road, Tai Po, N.T. M3B Baskerville House, 13 Duddell Street, Hong Kong. 7 Stanley Mound Road, Stanley, Hong Kong. 1903 Hang Chong Building, 5 Queen's Road C., Hong Kong. 12A Broadwood Road, 1/FL., Hong Kong. Architectural Office, P.W.D., Murray Building, Hong Kong. Dept. of Extra-Mural Studies, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong. Dept. of History, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong. Island School, Borrett Road Hong Kong. P.O. Box 9423, Hong Kong, Medical & Health Dept., Lee Gardens, Hysan Avenue, Hong Kong, 10A Belmont Court, 10 Kotewall Road, Hong Kong. 304 Chartered Bank Building, Hong Kong. Dept. of English, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong. 1 Homestead, The Peak, Hong Kong. Price Waterhouse & Co. Prince's Building 22/F, Hong Kong. Education Dept., Lee Gardens, Hysan Ave., Hong Kong. University Services Centre, 155 Argyle Street, Kowloon. Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T. Cheong K. Co., Cheong K. Building, 84 Des Voeux Road C., 2/Fl., Hong Kong. Rhenish Church College, 30 Hereford Road, Kowloon. Agriculture & Fisheries Dept., 393 Canton Road, Kowloon. Princess Margaret Hospital, Lai Chi Kok, Kowloon, Hong Kong Housing Authority, Housing Authority Headquarters, 101 Princess Margaret Road, Kowloon. ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1979 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/2801w5938 240 TAN, Mr. Khek-Seng, A, 11th Floor, Elegant Garden, 11 Conduit Road, HONG KONG LOCAL LIFE MEMBERS TANG, Sir Shiu-Kin, CBE, The Kowloon Motor Bus Co. Ltd., Room 1701 Central Building, HONG KONG. TANG, Mrs. Madeleine, 8C Grenville House, 1 Magazine Gap Road, HONG KONG. THOMAS, Mr. Louis F., c/o Lowe, Bingham, & Mathews, Prince's Building, 22/Fl., HONG KONG. THOMPSON, Mr. P. J., c/o Johnson, Stokes & Master, 10th and 11th Floors Alexandra House, 16-20 Chater Road, HONG KONG THROWER, Prof. L. B., Flat 6B, University Residence No. 6, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NEW TERRITORIES. THROWER, Dr. Stella, Flat 6B, Residence No. 6, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NEW TERRITORIES. TON CHEN, Mrs. Chu-Ching, 3-D Chesterfield Mansion, Kingston Street, HONG KONG, TORRIBLE, Mr. Graham Robert, c/o Hong Kong Club, HONG KONG WATSON, Mr. K. A., c/o Lammert Bros., Pedder Building, HONG KONG. WAUNG, Mr. William Sikying, 1903 Hang Chong Building, 5 Queen's Road C., HONG KONG. WEINREBE, Mr. Harry M., Fairfield Enterprises Ltd., 1404 Bank of Canton Building, 6 Des Voeux Road C., HONG KONG. WERLE, Ms. Helga, 3 Wood Road, 6/Fl., HONG KONG. WESLEY-SMITH, Mr. Peter, School of Law, University of Hong Kong, HONG KONG, WILLIAMS, Mr. Roger, Dept. of Extra-Mural Studies, University of Hong Kong, HONG KONG. WILLIAMS, Mr. B. V., Hong Kong Housing Authority, Housing Authority Headquarters, 101 Princess Margaret Road, KOWLOON. WILLIAMS, Mr. & Mrs. W.D F., 1 Riante Rive Apartments, 141 Milestone, Castle Peak Road, NEW TERRITORIES. WINKLER, Mrs. E., Flat 402, 12 May Road, HONG KONG WONG, Mr. Kwok Fong, 92A Pokfulam Road 1/Fl., HONG KONG. WONG, Mr. Peng-Cheong, Wong, Tan & Co., Chartered Accountants, South China Building, 3rd Floor, 1 Wyndham Street, HONG KONG, YEUNG, Mr. Walter W. T., 60-B Conduit Road, G/F, HONG KONG. YOUNG Miss Pauline, The Peak School, Plunketts Road, The Peak, HONG KONG. I ¦ | ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1981 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/ff36bt18m 130 TA ACTON earnest students of all ages doing the homework impossible to do in crowded one-room flats) The report suggests that even though land-based jobs had increased awareness of the need for secondary education, drop-out rates of those who started on it remained high because of the physical difficulties in the way of studying. The F.M.O. schools are not, however, mentioned in the report, nor have I seen any F.M.O. comments on these findings. 38 The report of the survey concludes that the plight of the poor boat-people is an indication of a more general social malaise, the devil-take-the-hindmost atmosphere of Hong Kong. They suggest that the Government should accept responsibility for re-settling the casualties of the mechanisation of the fishing industry from which the rest of the community has benefitted. In the long term, a better understanding of the Shui-sheung-yans' needs was required by the housing authority, who should plan in accordance with forecasts about the manpower needs of the fishing industry. The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries should extend the availability of its loans so that less initial capital is required of the borrower. New fishermen's villages could be built by the Housing Department, and the Labour Department and the Education Department should co-operate to increase the general levels of education and training in industrial skills. In the short term, the report urges immediate improvements in safety, rubbish collection, sanitation, and disinfection. Regular checks on boat safety should be made by the Marine Department. The Urban Council should provide study rooms for children, and the Education Department evening literacy classes and industrial training. 39 The report spurred a campaign which gained wider sympathy. In January 1979 a coach-load of boat-people were arrested on their way to take a petition to Government House. Children as young as seven years of age were finger-printed and charged with illegal assembly, although magistrates refused to proceed with the case against those under the age of 12. The adults, social workers, students, a Catholic missionary and Shui-sheung-yan, were found guilty, but discharged. After this incident, however, the groundswell of liberal support for the boat-people diversified into a general civil rights attack on the Public Order Ordinance itself. This has left the boat-people to fight their housing struggle by themselves, with the help of a few community workers linked to SoCO, such as Fr. Cunbo Franco, an Italian Roman Catholic priest actually living on a boat in the Yaumatei typhoon shelter. 40 ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1981 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/ff36bt18m EDUCATION AS A BY-PRODUCT OF FISH MARKETING 131 It is remarkable that the F.M.O. is not really among the agencies subjected to this lobbying. In their 1978 report, the F.M.O. (as distinct from its parent body, the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries) is not mentioned. In conversation SoCO workers and F.M.O. officials appeared unaware of each others' interests in the welfare and education of Shui-sheung-yan. They were dealing, in fact, with what had become two separate populations. Other Shui-sheung-yan organisations: links between rich and poor. Very few organisations bridge the gap between the FMO-constituency and the SoCO constituency; those that do, however, are worth mentioning. This paper will look at the Hong Kong and Kowloon Fishermen's Association, Ltd. in the port of Castle Peak; the three Fishermen's Recreation Clubs of Chai Wan, Stanley and Lamma Island; and the remarkable Chan Ye-So Kaau-Ooi (True Jesus Church) in the island of Ap Chau and the border port of Sha Tau Kok. The Hong Kong and Kowloon Fishermen's Association Ltd. This association is a trade union in which the Chinese Communist Party plays a leading role; as the F.M.O. liaison officer at Castle Peak put it, it acts as an intermediary for such Hong Kong fishermen as require it with the Chinese authorities, and can assess and influence the politics of the fishing industry in Hong Kong. Many Castle Peak fishermen are also registered with Chinese coastal communes. In 1971 it had built a handsome floating headquarters, which is still in the harbour at Castle Peak. The same process of mechanisation and reduction of the fishing fleet that operate throughout the territory had perforce affected its aims. By 1980, only 60 percent of its membership were still active fishermen, and their secretary stressed the achievement of better housing on land as being currently their main objective. Education could not be a priority issue for the boat-people when their living standards were so low. Because many had registered only recently, they were very low in the queue for public re-housing. The boat-people wanted to be re-housed together, and it would take less than one of the tall blocks of flats on a new housing estate to do so, but the housing authority would not allow group applications for re-housing; they would only take applications from individual families. One of the seven or eight new blocks of flats that had been built around the harbour area had had the character for fish in its name, and the boat people had thought it MUST ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1982 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/mk61z420p 7 Tions living in many public housing estate blocks. As observed in 1980: One of the largest estates where I interviewed, Tze Wan Shan Estate, is the largest in Hong Kong, housing well over 150,000 people. One of its blocks, Block #66, houses approximately 8,400 people. But it is not the largest. Across the street, Block #61, on the outer edge of the estate, houses nearly 9,900 people (Scott 1980:33). Blocks of this size, with such enormous resident populations, would make the standard arrangement not only impractical, but ridiculous. Yet, there have been some standard committees created under such situations. For example, in 1978 Blocks #62, #64, and #65 of Tze Wan Shan Estate, with a combined population of 11,000 inhabitants, were operating with one committee. Some blocks solve the population problem by dividing into floors; for example, one committee could be formed for, say, every three floors. In 1977, the Mutual Aid Committees of Block #23 of Tung Tau Estate, Wong Tai Sin District, were arranged in this way. It is also possible, if the block has wings, for each wing to have its own committee. Even with all these alternatives, there is probably no one perfect solution to the problem of committee allocation in public housing (Scott 1980:33). 11 “A Mutual Aid Committee must be approved by the District Officer/Assistant District Officer under delegated authority from the Secretary for District Administration on a biennial basis for the purpose of exemption from the Societies Ordinance (Cap. 151)” (City and New Territories Administration 1982:1).10 Each Mutual Aid Committee in Lok Fu Estate follows this rule and is registered for a period of two years. However, before October of 1981, the committees were registered for only one year. The lengthening of the registration period was felt to have a beneficial effect, as it would enable the committees to complete projects planned and generally function more efficiently. At the end of this time, each committee is reviewed by the District Officer or City District Officer and if found to be functioning without serious problems, its certificate is renewed. Each committee has its own biennial cycle, however, based on the time at ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1982 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/mk61z420p 20 JANET LEE SCOTT the halls and the entrances of the blocks, watching for intruders and generally keeping an eye on the safety of the building. The majority of public housing estates have set up some kinds of patrol, or have had patrols in the past until the setting up of gates made them unnecessary (Scott 1980:38). While these neighbourhood security patrols are extremely common in other estates, there are very few at Lok Fu. Why is this? There are a number of possible reasons, beginning with the smaller size of these blocks. Lok Fu Estate is designed on the older Mark I and Mark II structural designs which accommodate fewer people to start with, and recently, a number of blocks have been losing residents to newer estates elsewhere, or to home ownership schemes. In addition, the conversion of many blocks has meant fewer units, and therefore, fewer resident families. Fewer residents suggests fewer problems to many people, and so residents of some blocks do not see the need for a patrol. In addition, the H-shape of the Mark II blocks with outside balconies makes it easier to spot intruders, and makes residents feel safer. It should also be remembered that Lok Fu Estate has a Neighbourhood Police Unit in Block #13, and all the MAC officers are acquainted with its director. In fact, all the chairmen but one stressed again and again how safe and peaceful life was in the blocks. Another reason, one probably more to the point, is that residents of most blocks are simply no longer enthusiastic about patrolling, and they are not willing to give money to pay for the service, even if earlier in the committee's history they had supported such a team. The result has been half-hearted attempts to form patrols, and numerous failures. For example, one committee had planned to establish a patrol team, but both interest and funds were insufficient to support it. Committee officers then decided that it would be more effective to hire a watchman for the front gate, but residents would not give money for that either, so up to now nothing has been accomplished. A similar lack of funds (and authority) prevented another committee from starting a patrol team. "The MAC organizations were mainly set up in 1973, assisted by the City District Office, because public order was very bad at that ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1996 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/3n209j641 JOHN FRYER'S EARLY YEARS IN CHINA: III. ACCOUNT OF THREE DAYS EXCURSION ON THE MAINLAND OF CHINA FRED DAGENAIS* 129 This is the third in a series of letters by John Fryer (1838-1928) to appear in this Journal. In the first letter Fryer described the tedious and sometimes difficult voyage from London to Hong Kong in 1861 on a sailing ship via the Cape of Good Hope with a brief stop at Batavia. In the first letter Fryer presented himself as a very young man just out of Highbury Training College coming into contact with the larger world, homesick, critical of the master of the ship and of the passengers, confirmed in his personal faith, bent on self-improvement, and interacting for the first time with missionaries in the colonial world of Batavia and Hong Kong. The second letter, written shortly after his arrival, described Hong Kong and its environs and the European and Chinese people encountered; in it he provided us with a detailed tour of the building housing St. Paul's College, where he had been assigned to superintend by the Church Missionary Society, and of its operations. St Paul's College had its origins in a school founded in the mid-1840s by then Colonial Chaplain Rev. Vincent Stanton; the College was given a boost by the arrival in 1850 of the Rev George Smith, Bishop of Victoria (1849-64). In that letter Fryer seemed in awe of his new authority and responsibility and quite proud of the commodious school building and its library; he began to socialize with the Colonial Chaplain and his family, and revealed an appreciation of the wider perspective offered by the interaction with the Chinese population of the island and its culture. The first and second letters were clearly identified as letters written for home consumption, for family and friends in Hythe and Chudleigh. The letters were extracted from his diary and designed to describe his adventures in an exotic land. The first letter had a salutation and a signature; the second letter had a salutation, but ended abruptly, the last page or pages with conclusion and signature having perhaps been lost or purposely destroyed. ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1997 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/wp98g7579 11 government would not surrender responsibility for, say, Immigration or Inland Revenue; but that other duties were either less clear-cut or simply so expensive as only to be borne by Government - this did not mean that they were not of great interest and concern to local residents. The report proposed that local authorities must be consulted, and enabled to make their views known, on the adequacy of Government’s arrangements or proposals for police and fire-service 'cover', medical, housing and educational facilities (which must silently stretch to financing policy), town-planning and development plans, and public transport. 'Mandatory' executive functions which should be devolved to all local authorities would include: Public Health Control and provision of cleansing & sanitary services; latrines, bath & wash houses, laundries, labourers' lines, swimming pools, offensive trades & markets, hawking, ventilation, overcrowding, advertisements, slaughter houses, cemeteries & mortuaries. Licensing & control of restaurants, tea-houses & cooked food stalls. Notification of infectious diseases and public vaccination. Other Licensing Liquor, barber shops, bars, billiard saloons, bowling alleys, cinemas, dance halls, mahjong shops, money-lenders, pawnbrokers, skating rinks & table tennis saloons. Housing Management of Government low-cost housing estates. Other Weights & Measures & naming of streets. At first sight this miscellany hardly seemed of major public interest, apart from housing management and sanitation, and certainly no more likely to inspire civic consciousness than did the Urban Council which already had these powers in Victoria and Kowloon (its unofficial membership doubled as the Housing Authority.) However the supplementary list of 'permissive' functions which councils could undertake within laid-down standards promised much more delegation of visible powers from central social service Departments. Under Public ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1997 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/wp98g7579 12 Health were listed provision & operation of maternity homes, ante- & post-natal clinics and health visiting. Under Education came provision & operation of primary & secondary schools, adult education & evening institutes. Under Welfare were recreational facilities, youth clubs, community centres, sports facilities, public swimming pools, homes for the aged, infants' crêches, refuges for street sleepers, distribution of relief, entertainment (band concerts, Chinese drama & opera), pleasure grounds, playgrounds and bathing beaches. The Miscellaneous category added declaration of one-way streets, parking zones, closing of streets as playgrounds (after consultation with Police), traffic warden services, provision & management of car parks, amenity provision (eg public fountains & tree planting), museums & art galleries, and undertaking of functions (such as collection of water rates & various fees) as agents of the central government. This list went much farther in involvement of representative bodies in the affairs which closely and legitimately concerned the ordinary man and woman in the street, as well as extending what was already delegated to the Urban Council into most of the colony's growth areas. Apart from suggesting that the list might be added to in the light of experience, the bold proposition was made that in future no central department should be permitted to establish new local machinery without proving that the activity could not be carried out by a Local Authority. The report stated that it was not envisaged that the new councils should be independent Education Authorities; but it was clearly hoped that in the fullness of time the Education Department would regard local authority schools as a main component of the grant-aided system, and indeed relinquish its own primary schools to the councils. Finally, as a carrot for those in the NT who might be willing to contemplate change, it was pointed out that rural district councils should take over agricultural extension schemes, forestry lots, fish-ponds, local public works (footpaths, bridges, piers etc), local ferries, village layouts & housing schemes, and local water supplies & irrigation. This would all have to be paid for. Local authorities should have financial responsibility, including revenue-raising powers. Local accountability to tax-payers and freedom from stifling dependency on central grants (with their inevitable consequential frictions) were essential to success. New structures would increase the administrative costs of the colony overall, and it might well be that some areas would ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1997 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/wp98g7579 31 Certainly, for heavy duty scaffolding laid out on a grid pattern, say when constructing a flyover and for other civil engineering work, metal scaffolding has advantages. Metal has already taken over in some cases from timber in areas such as hoardings around building sites and for site offices, when containers are sometimes utilised. Also, on large projects managed by the Government Housing Department, precast concrete units are used together with gondolas. This does away with much scaffolding. Although the change from bamboo scaffolding to metal has been much slower than many people expected over the past 40 years, especially with a limited number of trainee scaffolders entering the trade, the changing to metal can be expected to continue. Nevertheless, one can expect bamboo scaffolding, with its many advantages, to be in use for many years to come. Acknowledgements The author is grateful to Mr Albert Tong Yat Chu, Mr Cho Hon Chiu and scaffolding instructor Master Chor Keung, all of the Construction Industry Training Authority, for the information and photographs they supplied. The author is also grateful to Mr Jimmy C. M. Yuen, of the Occupational Safety and Health Council and to Mr S. L. Lam, Senior Architect of the Architectural Services Department, for their assistance. REFERENCES 1. TC Lai, Hasem Role. Philip Mao, Hings Chinese (Hong Kong, 1971), pp 13 and 14 2. Shrona Anbe, Fhustle ontd Bamboo, the Life and Times of St. James Stewart Lockhart, Oxford University Press (1989), p. 58 3. Alfred Russel Wallace, FRS (1823-1913) British naturalist, widely travelled, had many publications to his credit. See Chambers Biographical dictionary (Revised edition 1961) 4. Ho So, The Craft of Chinese Scaffolding, Ho So Kee Construction and Scaffolding Co (Hong Kong, circa 1974), p 3 5. Naomi Yin-yin Szeto, 'Bamboo Scaffolding”, of Hearts and Hands Hong Kong's Traditional Trades and Crafts, ed Joseph Ting, Urban Council Museum of History (Hong Kong, 1995), P 219 6. Ho, loc cit 7. Anthony Walker and Stephen M. Rowlinson, The Building of Hong Kong, The Hong Kong Construction Association, Hong Kong University Press (1990), p 121-131 ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-2002 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/mp4901278 151 and too friendly, and the Americans think the British are stuffy and class conscious," said Smith, chuckling. "But I don't think there was any conflict [before]... Some of the members would say, 'Oh, Smith is at it again, but that's Smith...'(chuckles). I don't make a big point out of it, but I do speak my mind and say what I think. - "A member made a statement at the AGM - I won't go into detail 'cause that will go into personalities anyway, saying the society is sort of fading away and ten years from now there would be only a few old people sitting here at the meeting...and I said (using an old man's voice), 'Yes, and I'm going to be one of them.'” Smith bursts into laughter. He's more endearing than ever. "I don't think that's true. When a society is no longer fulfilling a function, well, societies die as they have in many parts of Asia, so we need to keep abreast of changes, we need to keep looking at our programs." In the Heart of the Metropolis... Earlier, a group of us made the trek to lunch for dim sum. Tim Ko sat next to me talking a bit about himself, but more about the food. He is fluent in English, but slightly accented, and is very much at home among mostly native English speakers. Today, however, he is a bit nervous because he has to give a slide presentation soon and lunch is taking an awfully long time. He begins wondering if he'll have enough time to prepare. Finally, he leaves, before dessert red bean soup... For his slide presentation, Tim Ko has changed into a beige shirt and rust coloured tie. His "Living in Hong Kong, 1960-1980” focuses on the city's diverse housing estates and features more than 100 photos, including some that have never been publicly shown before. The crowd seems to appreciate them. Ko is a semi-professional photographer who has been snapping Hong Kong history for the past 20 years. He "accidentally" discovered many of his presentation slides while doing research at the Housing Authority office. ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-2002 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/mp4901278 153 "I would like to do more for students...In our time at school, even in the university, no one really cared about Hong Kong history and at secondary school, we never had a chance to study Hong Kong history, so no one knew about what happened in Hong Kong." Ko has also published a battlefield guide and a bilingual publication for the Country Parks Authority. His next book, a resource guide for teachers and students on Kowloon City, should be out in May. Ko has not published in the RAS Journal, and has no plans to. “Not as many people are writing in Chinese,” said Ko. "There are a lot of many very good scholars writing very good things like Patrick Hase, James Hayes, but all these, they only write in English." Ko is a fifth-generation Hong Konger. He is Hakka and his ancestors were stonecutters. He has traced his family back to the 1850's, before the British came. Ko studied Japanese at the Hong Kong Polytechnic and worked for the HKTA (Hong Kong Tourist Association, now the Tourism Board) for six years before quitting to do more of what he does today record Hong Kong history, including what life was like in the early resettlement blocks. "It's quite unimaginable for young people now, the communal toilets, communal bathrooms, no tap water in a small flat," said Ko. "You remember I emphasised during the talk, 24 square feet for each adult, a 100-square foot room would take at least four adults or six, if there are children. You could imagine how the situation could be. All the male members would need to sleep in the public corridor. "I always dream of, even till now, I dream of life in the housing blocks. I don't know why, many times a year, even till now, because actually I spent 22 years there...[They] could not be regarded as fond memories because we lived on the top floor and there were a lot of problems then with the ceiling leaking.” The 37-year-old has supported himself for the last 10 years through freelance jobs -- acting as co-ordinator and translator for the visiting Japanese media book royalties, and other odd projects. Ko has been a member of the RAS since 1990 and on the Council ================================================================================