RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1979
https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/2801w5938
the future we hope it may be possible to organise a small group to visit cultural sites in Thailand (e.g. Chiangmai, Pimai, Sukhothai and Ban Chiang). December might be particularly convenient in view of the projected Hong Kong-Chiangmai direct service by Thai International from April 1. Another small group may be able to visit South Korea at Easter 1980, in cooperation with the Korean Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. Plans for these visits have to be made many months in advance and many members have found it necessary in the past to withdraw after initial arrangements have been made. Some sixteen members, for example, withdrew from the proposed Darjeeling-Sikkim visit after payment of deposits which were fully refunded. But this entailed a substantial amount of rearrangement of aircraft, hotels, ground transport, and so forth. Although recent and forthcoming excursions are arranged on a 'break even' basis for the Society, they are at considerably less cost to participants than for individual travel; and it may be necessary to consider levying some non-refundable service charge in future to protect the Society's financial interests. I would like to thank Dr. Shaw for all the time and effort he has put into these excursion arrangements and I am sure those who have participated would wish me to do so. Janie Thomas of Urbis Planning Design has also offered to include interested members of our Society in a trip she is planning for later this year to Shanghai and Peking. All except our very recently joined members have been circulated with information about her proposals.

Publications

Work continues for our proposed publication of photographs with text of old Hong Kong buildings. Many of the buildings photographed — by members of your Council and friends — have since been demolished. Mr. Tony Rydings has played a very active role in this project together with Mr. Ian Diamond. We are now, so to speak, on the home stretch in this publication project with approximately three-quarters of the text assembled and the photographs in place. We would like also to thank Dr. Solomon Bard, Executive Secretary, Antiquities and Monuments Section, Urban Services Department, for much material assistance with the project.

The 1977 Journal is now being distributed to all members, and Dr. Hayes has already submitted a draft list of contents for the 1978 issue which promises to have a great deal of interesting and
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RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1983
https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/j9607p61v
# THE LIBRARY OF THE HONG KONG BRANCH ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY

# REPORT FOR THE YEAR 1983-1984

Since the retirement of H. A. Rydings, Esq., last year, and his resignation from the Council, there has been a quiet period of gradual takeover. This has been followed by a wild flurry of activity caused by the donation to the Society of a large number of books from the collection of the late W. V. Pennell, Esq. These came to us via the University of Hong Kong Library and will boost the size of our collection considerably. My intention is to produce an additions list this year. This will provide members with details of the new books. Approximately 280 titles have been added since the last edition of the catalogue which must be a record for the Society. This total also includes gifts from Dr. James Hayes and from the International Cultural Society of Korea. There is only one pessimistic note. This is the recurrent problem of accommodation which has inevitably raised its head with such an influx of material. It may be necessary in the end to re-locate the journal collection but preferable alternatives are being sought. On the subject of journals, the purchase of Volumes 1-18 of Monumenta Serica this year establishes almost a complete run of this title. We have also a new exchange journal to add, The Journal of East Asian Affairs which comes from Korea.

In all it has been a most productive year.

14th March 1984.

xvii

V. E. MORGAN

Hon. Librarian
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