RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1995 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/95941j25g # THE HONG KONG BRANCH OF THE ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY Patron: Christopher Patten Governor of Hong Kong The Council, 1995 President: D.A. Gilkes, M.A., C.A., J.P. Vice-Presidents: Carl T. Smith, B.A., M. Div. Elizabeth Sinn, B.A., M. Phil., Ph.D. Hon. Secretary: David St. Maur Sheil Hon. Treasurer: Robert Nield, F.C.A., F.H.K.S.A. Hon. Editor: P.E. Halliday Hon. Librarian: Julia Chan Councillors: Phillip Bruce Michael Lau, B.A., Dip. Ed., M.A., Ph.D. A.K.K. Siu, B.A., M.A., Ph.D. Anita Wilson, M.A. D.D. Waters, I.S.O., M.Phil., Ph.D., Dip.IET., F.C.I.O.B., F.B.I.M. Joseph S.P. Ting, B.A., M.Phil., Ph.D. P.H. Hase, B.A., Ph.D. ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1995 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/95941j25g particular attention and that was the three and a half months photographic exhibition which was put on by the Society in conjunction with the very helpful Antiquities and Monuments Office. This exhibition, covering many aspects of Hong Kong history with a fine array of photographs from the Society's archives and other sources, ran for three months. It attracted a great deal of publicity in the Chinese and English press, radio programmes and United Press International also beamed a release around the world, not just about the exhibition but also about heritage and local history in Hong Kong in general. I would like to thank the staff of the Recreation and Culture Department of the Hong Kong Government, and particularly its Secretary, Mr. T.H. Chau, for making this all possible, those who lent photographs for the exhibition, Mrs. S. McGrady, Mr. Colin Gimson, Mrs. P. Alway, Mr. Brian Pearce and Mrs. Elaine Marden, and even more particularly Dr. Dan Waters. Without Dan's drive and enthusiasm it is doubtful if the Exhibition would ever have got off the ground, but it did and we owe him a huge vote of thanks. The Exhibition was such a great success that we do hope that it will be possible to run similar events. I have dwelt for sometime on the activities of the Society deservedly so since they play a very important and prominent part in the Society's affairs. However there are other activity areas which are important for us to note and acknowledge. Firstly there is the library. Under the capable guidance of Ms. Julia Chan, our Librarian, it continues to flourish: she will report separately to you. Secondly, there is the administration of our finances, by our Treasurer, Mr. Robert Nield; he will be reporting to you separately later in detail. However, well as the finances are run, and they are in a sound position, even he cannot manufacture income from nothing and escape from the ravages of inflation. Subscription rates have not been raised since 1993 and you will note therefore that we are recommending a rise in rates with effect from 1 January 1997. Lastly I would like to convey our thanks to those who keep this very interesting Society together, to all Council members, particularly to the two Vice-Presidents, Reverend Carl Smith and Dr. Elizabeth Sinn; Mrs. Anita Wilson for co-ordinating the all important Newsletter and last but not least our Assistant Secretary, Mrs. Claire Hockaday. XIV Page 15 Page 16 ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1996 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/3n209j641 The Hong Kong Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society Patron Christopher Patten Governor of Hong Kong The Council, 1996-97 President D.A. Gilkes, M.A., C.A., J.P. (until October, 1996) D.D. Waters, I.S.O., M.Phil., Ph.D., Dip. IET., F.C.I.O.B., F.B.I.M. (Acting until March, 1997) Vice-presidents Carl T. Smith, B.A., M.Div. Elizabeth Sinn, B.A., M.Phil., Ph.D. Hon. Secretary David St. Maur Sheil (until November, 1996) Claire Hockaday (acting until March, 1997) Hon. Treasurer Robert Nield, F.C.A., F.H.K.S.A. Hon. Editor Peter Halliday Hon. Librarian Julia Chan Councillors Phillip Bruce Michael Lau, B.A., Dip. Ed., M.A., Ph.D. A.K.K. Siu, B.A., M.A., Ph.D. Anita Wilson, M.A. Joseph S.P. Ting, B.A., M.Phil., Ph.D. P.H. Hase, B.A., Ph.D. Geoffrey Roper, B.A. iv ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1997 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/wp98g7579 The Hong Kong Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society The Council, 1997-98 President D.D. Waters, I.S.O., M.Phil., Ph.D., Dip. IET., F.C.I.O.B., F.B.I.M. Hon Vice-presidents Carl T Smith, B.A., M.Div. Vice-presidents Elizabeth Sinn, B.A., M.Phil., Ph.D. Michael Lau, B.A., Dip. Ed., M.A., Ph.D. Hon. Secretary Peter Barker, Ph.D Hon. Treasurer Robert Nield, F.C.A., F.H.K.S.A. Hon. Editor Peter Halliday Hon. Librarian Julia Chan Councillors A.K.K. Siu, B.A., M.A., Ph.D. Joseph S.P. Ting, B.A., M.Phil., Ph.D P.H. Hase, B.A., Ph.D. Geoffrey Roper, B.A. Valery Garrett, B.A., Post Grad. Dip. Des. Peter Rull Choi Chi-cheung, B.A., M.Phil., D.Litt Assistant Secretary Claire Hockaday (until November, 1997) Sarah Parnell (from November, 1997) iv ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1997 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/wp98g7579 to his daughter, Mrs R. Woodcock, for donating these to our Society. Our Branch is always looking for donations and if anybody wishes to find a good home for some interesting and valuable items or artifacts we should be grateful if you would consider donating them to the RASHKB. The Public Records Office Although the RASHKB is apolitical and has no wish to be seen as a pressure group, it does make its views known when it has a case. You may remember that our Branch objected when the Hong Kong Government decided to move the Public Records Office from Central District into an industrial building in Tuen Mun. Besides writing letters and taking other action two Branch deputations appeared before the Legislative Council Panel on Information Policy in 1993. The outcome of our efforts was that a new, purpose-built Public Records Office was opened in Kwun Tong, in June 1997, shortly before the Handover. Our Branch played a major role in this achievement. The Council Several of the 14 posts which comprise our Council require a special expertise. These include the Treasurer, the Librarian and our Editors. But, in addition to these 14 posts, other persons are co-opted on to the Council. They include the Reverend Carl Smith, our Honorary Vice President, and our Assistant Secretary, Mrs Sarah Parnell. Each Council Member is expected to pull at his or her respective oar and to row in unison. It is a working council. In addition to the two co-opted persons named above, namely Carl Smith and Sarah Parnell, as well as the President, the following have sat on the Council during the past year: Doctors Elizabeth Sinn, Michael Lau, Patrick Hase, Joseph Ting, Peter Barker, Choi Chi-cheung and Anthony Siu, together with Robert Nield, Geoffrey Roper, Peter Halliday, Valery Garrett, Julia Chan, and Peter Rull. Also, although Anita Wilson stepped down from the Council at the last AGM, she was co-opted back on until she left the Territory last July. All those xvii ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1997 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/wp98g7579 A Reference Collection of pre-1900 materials has been set up in the RAS Collection at the City Hall Public Library. For security of these rare and valuable items which might be difficult to replace, members are requested to use them inside the Library. For those who are concerned with space problems, there will be a delay in the opening of the new Hong Kong Central Library at Moreton Terrace, because of the controversial issue of architectural design. The building will still be ready in 1999 but will not be open for use until the middle of the year 2000. Usage of the RAS collection has increased substantially over the past year. As reported by the City Hall Library Office, usage of the RAS Library for the period from April 1997 to 15 March 1998 is as follows: No. of reference enquiries 182 No. of books consulted 385 No. of borrowers 183 No. of books loaned out 99 Julia Chan Hon. Librarian 15 March 1998 xxxiv ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1998 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/1g05n0794 The Hong Kong Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society The Council, 1998-99 President Dan D. Waters, B.B.S., I.S.O., M.Phil., Ph.D., Dip. IET., F.C.I.O.B., F.B.I.M. Hon Vice-president Carl T Smith, B.A., M.Div. Vice-presidents Elizabeth Sinn, B.A., M.Phil., Ph.D. Michael Lau, B.A., Dip. Ed., M.A., Ph.D. Hon. Secretary Peter Barker, B.Sc.(Hons.), Ph.D. Hon. Treasurer Robert Nield, F.C.A., F.H.K.S.A. Hon. Editor Peter Halliday Hon. Librarian Julia Chan, B.A., M.L.A., A.H.I.P., F.H.K.L.A. Councillors Anthony K.K. Siu, B.A., M.A., Ph.D. Joseph S.P. Ting, B.A., M.Phil., Ph.D Patrick H. Hase, B.A., Ph.D. Valery Garrett, B.A., Post Grad. Dip. Des. Choi Chi-cheung, B.A., M.Phil., D.Litt Tim Ko Robert ('Bob') G. Horsnell Geoffrey Roper, B.A. (co-opted) Assistant Secretary Sarah Parnell iv ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1998 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/1g05n0794 is worth ten pressed men (or women) this Group has been able to carry out some really meaningful tasks and provide a community service. Our thanks are due to all these volunteers and especially to our two very experienced RAS Chartered Surveyor members, Bill Greaves and Bob Horsnell, who lead this Group (see Appendix D). Friends' of RASHKB After the setting up of such a Group was initially proposed in the summer of 1997, by Keith Stevens, the 'Friends' of the RASHKB, in Britain, got off to a good start in 1998. A separate report about this Group has been compiled by its Chairman (RASHKB Immediate Past President), David Gilkes. We are grateful to all our overseas members who have worked hard to establish this Group which is now, I am pleased to report, on a sound footing. Library and Finance Both our Honorary Librarian, Julia Chan, and our Honorary Treasurer, Robert Nield, have prepared their own 1998/1999 reports. I thank them both for their guidance and for the special expertise they bring to our Council. Accommodation We are extremely grateful to PricewaterhouseCoopers for providing us with accommodation, for our Council and committee meetings, conveniently situated in the heart of Central. We are also extremely grateful to the Public Records Office, at Kwun Tong, for providing us with storage space and assistance in other capacities during the past year. We are also grateful to the Urban Council for allowing us to conduct our lectures in the City Hall as joint Urban Council RASHKB functions. The Council Although a large amount of the more routine administration and other work is carried out by individual Council members, much of it in their own homes, nevertheless all the important decisions are taken ‘in Council.' It meets once every six weeks or so with a break during the xvii ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1998 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/1g05n0794 months of July and August. The work undertaken by the following Council members, both within and outside the Council, is greatly appreciated: Valery Garrett, Julia Chan, Robert Nield, Peter Halliday and Doctors Elizabeth Sinn, Michael Lau, Patrick Hase, Joseph Ting, Anthony Siu, Choi Chi-cheung and Peter Barker. The last has served ably as our Honorary Secretary. In addition the Reverend Carl Smith, who is 81 not out and still researching aspects of Hong Kong's and Macau's history, together with Geoffrey Roper, are both role models for us all. It is interesting to record that Carl undertook his first local history project, in the United States, as long ago as 1931. This year, as in the past, we have invited RASHKB members to nominate other members of good standing to serve on the Council. No one has been nominated. I am thus pleased to inform you that all except two of our present Council members are offering themselves for re-election. However, Dr Choi Chi-cheung, Professor Anthony K K Siu and Mr Geoffrey Roper (the last a co-opted member) have intimated that, because of pressure of work and other reasons, they wish to step down. We are grateful to scholars Drs Choi and Siu for all they have done for our Branch. We are also grateful to Geoffrey Roper, especially with regard to his work with organising activities. It is good to know that all three have agreed to continue to assist our Branch in the future, outside the Council. This we appreciate. For most members serving on the Council or sitting on a committee, is something they do after completing a hard day's work. All are volunteers. Such service requires time as well as energy and dedication to achieve results and it can, sometimes, be frustrating for a variety of reasons. Naturally, on the odd occasion, we, the members of your Council, may not get everything exactly right first time around. It has been said on a humorous note, if sometimes one keeps one's head when all about are losing theirs, then it may mean one has not grasped fully the seriousness of the situation!' We like to think, however, that our Branch is efficiently run. We do, nevertheless, welcome suggestions as well as offers of help. Ask not what the RAS can do for you, ask what you can do for the RAS! Acknowledgements I have already acknowledged the considerable amount of help xviii ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1998 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/1g05n0794 A bilingual notice was posted at the City Hall Public Library to make users aware that the RAS Collection is available for public reference at the City Hall Reference Library. The notice has recently been enlarged to help publicise the Collection. This has led to an increase in the usage of the Collection for consultation. Usage of the RAS collection for reference has increased by 18%. But while the number of borrowers has dropped by 52%, the number of books loaned out has increased by 6%. As reported by the City Hall Library Office, usage of the RAS Library for the period from 1 March 1998 to 28 February 1999 is as follows: No. of reference enquiries No. of books consulted No. of borrowers No. of books loaned out 172 454 88 105 Julia Chan Hon. Librarian 1 March 1999 xxxvi ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1999 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/s178b887x THE HONG KONG BRANCH OF THE ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY The Council, 1999-2000 President Dan D. Waters, B.B.S., I.S.O., M.Phil., Ph.D., Dip. IET., F.C.I.O.B., F.B.I.M. Hon Vice-president Carl T Smith, B.A., M.Div. Vice-presidents Elizabeth Sinn, B.A., M.Phil., Ph.D. Michael Lau, B.A., Dip. Ed., M.A., Ph.D. Hon. Secretary Peter Barker, B.Sc. (Hons.), Ph.D. Hon. Treasurer Robert Nield, F.C.A., F.H.K.S.A. Hon. Editor Peter Halliday Hon. Librarian Julia Chan, B.A., M.L.A., A.H.I.P., F.H.K.L.A. Chairperson, Activities Committee Valery Garrett, B.A., Post Grad. Dip. Des. Councillors Joseph S.P. Ting, B.A., M.Phil., Ph.D Patrick H. Hase, B.A., Ph.D. Tim Ko Robert ('Bob') G. Horsnell Janet Lee Scott May Holdsworth Assistant Secretary Sarah Parnell iii ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1999 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/s178b887x himself a Hongkonger at heart and one of us. He helps the Branch in many ways albeit at a distance. We are sorry to have to report the death of Sir Robert Black, at the age of 93. Sir Robert was Governor of Hong Kong from 1958 to 1964. While serving in the Colony he was Patron of the RASHKB and, on one occasion, he even chaired a Branch meeting. This was the first time a governor had chaired such a meeting since the days of Sir John Bowring in the middle of the 19th century. Sir Robert was also our first Honorary Member, a position he held until his death. We also regret having to record the passing of member Jeanne Bromfield, in May 1999 in England. She, together with husband Tony and family, lived and worked in Hong Kong, as a teacher, from the 1950s until relatively recently. She attended RAS functions regularly. We are also sorry to have to record the passing of RAS member Dr Alan Birch who taught at the University of Hong Kong for many years. He made a major contribution to local history and many students passed through his hands. His monuments are around for all to see. Membership drive and public relations Realising that if our Society wishes to attract new members it is not desirable to hide our light under a bushel, some emphasis has been placed on public relations. This has included appearances by members on television and radio, on both English and Chinese programmes, and reports in the press. A number of our members have also been engaged by other societies to lecture to their memberships. In such cases they usually take the opportunity to mention the RAS. We must also thank RAS Member Sydney Cowell who sent out details of the RAS to a number of his colleagues and friends. As a result, new RAS members were recruited. We are grateful to Council member Julia Chan who arranged for a RASHKB exhibition to be held in the foyer of the Main Library of Hong Kong University. This attracted considerable attention among staff, students and visitors. Plans are being laid for similar exhibitions to be held at other venues in the Territory. xiii ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1999 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/s178b887x May, 1999, at the School of Oriental and African Studies, London University, after which he gave a talk entitled: 'Hong Kong: From Memory Lane to Post 1997 Handover' RASHKB Library and finance Both our Honorary Librarian, Julia Chan, and our Honorary Treasurer, Robert Nield, have prepared their own 1999/2000 reports which they will present at this Annual General Meeting. I thank them for their assistance and for the special expertise that they bring to our Council. Our RASHKB Library is on permanent loan to the City Hall Urban Council Library and we thank the City Hall and its staff for all their assistance during the past year. Accommodation We also owe a debt of gratitude to PricewaterhouseCooper, who have helped us in various ways. With their offices situated in the heart of Central District, for example, they have provided us with very convenient accommodation for our Council and committee meetings. Similarly, we are grateful to the Public Records Office, at Kwun Tong, for providing us with storage space for our publications and for other assistance rendered by them during the past year. We are also indebted to the Government Leisure and Cultural Services Department for permitting us to use the City Hall accommodation for lectures which are run as joint RASHKB/Leisure and Cultural Services functions. The Council Although a number of decisions have to be taken outside Council (because of the time factor) by individual office bearers or a few together, the majority of the important decisions are taken in Council. This meets every six weeks or so with a longer break over the summer. During the past year the Council has consisted of Doctors Elizabeth Sinn and Michael Lau, both Vice Presidents, Robert Nield, Peter Halliday, Julia Chan, Valery Garrett, Bob Horsnell, Tim Ko, and May Holdsworth. Doctors Patrick Hase, Joseph Ting, Peter Barker, and Janet Lee Scott have also been members of Council while the Reverend Carl Smith, Honorary Vice President, and Sarah Parnell have been co-opted on to the Council. xviii ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1999 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/s178b887x and seminar about the old library of the Royal Asiatic Society, North China Branch with the new Hong Kong Central Library at the beginning of 2001. Mr. Michael Lee (Chief Librarian of Provisional Urban Council Public Library) and Ms. Agnes Lee (Reference Librarian of City Hall Public Library) will be travelling to Shanghai and will take the opportunity to examine the conditions of the books before making any decision to set up the exhibition. Efforts have been made in planning the relocation of the RAS Collection to the new Hong Kong Central Library at Moreton Terrace in Causeway Bay around the end of 2000. Similar to existing arrangements, post-1900 materials will be located in the special collection, and pre-1900 materials (previously the RAS Reference Collection) will be housed in the new Rare Book Room for reference only. Mrs. Valery Garrett and Mrs. May Holdsworth have kindly spent some time in reviewing the existing RAS pre-1900 western language materials, and selecting/adding titles from the special collection to the rare book collection as appropriate. Ms. Julia Chan, Honorary Librarian, worked with Dr. Michael Lau in arranging the RAS rare book collection in Chinese language. Compact shelving will be provided to maximize storage capacity and a comfortable reading area will be available to users to consult the materials. The collection will also be open to the academic communities and general public for reference. Usage of the RAS collection for reference was similar to last year. But while the number of borrowers has dropped by 50%, the number of books loaned out has increased by 22%. As reported by the City Hall Library Office, usage of the RAS Library for the period from 1 March 1999 to 28 February 2000 is as follows: No. of reference enquiries No. of books consulted No. of borrowers No. of books loaned out 188 457 44 128 Julia Chan Hon. Librarian 1 March 2000 XXXV ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1999 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/s178b887x 246 The Royal Asiatic Society Council Dr Dan Waters President Rev Carl Smith Hon Vice-President Mr David Gilkes Immediate Past President Dr Michael Lau Vice-President Dr Elizabeth Sian Vice-President Dr Peter Barker Hon Secretary Mr Robert Nield Hon Treasurer Dr Peter Halliday Hon Editor of the Journal Ms Julia Chan Hon Librarian Mrs Valerie Garrett Hon Activities Co-ordinator Dr Patrick Hase Mrs May Holdsworth Mr Bob Horsnell Mr Tim Ko Tim Keung Prof Janet Lee Scott Dr Joseph Ting Royal Asiatic Society GPO Box 3864 Tel: 2813 7500 www.royalasiaticsociety.org.hk ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-2000 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/nk328168n The Hong Kong Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society The Council, 2000-2001 President Dan D. Waters, B.B.S., I.S.O., M.Phil., Ph.D., Dip. IET., F.C.I.O.B., F.B.I.M. Hon Vice-president Carl T. Smith, B.A., M.Div. Vice-presidents Elizabeth Sinn, B.B.S., B.A., M.Phil., Ph.D. Michael Lau, B.A., Dip. Ed., M.A., Ph.D. Hon. Secretary Peter Barker, B.Sc. (Hons.), Ph.D. Hon. Treasurer Robert Nield, F.C.A., F.H.K.S.A. Hon. Editor Peter Halliday Hon. Librarian Julia Chan, B.A., M.L.A., A.H.I.P., F.H.K.L.A. Chairperson, Activities Committee Valery Garrett, B.A., Post Grad. Dip. Des. Councillors Joseph S.P. Ting, B.A., M.Phil., Ph.D Patrick H. Hase, B.A., Ph.D. Tim Ko Robert ('Bob') G. Horsnell Janet Lee Scott May Holdsworth Assistant Secretary Sarah Parnell (until October 2000) Mary Painter vi ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-2000 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/nk328168n Thank you must go to Chartered Surveyors Bill Greaves and Bob Horsnell, both long-time residents on whom our Volunteers depend for leadership. Historian Tim Ko has also helped in various ways. We are grateful to all concerned. Friends of the HKBRAS Our group of "Friends" in Britain, who held their first meeting in July 1998, consisting largely of HKBRAS members who lived in Hong Kong for many years, has had another active year. Their activities are detailed in a separate report written by HKBRAS Immediate Past-President, David Gilkes, who is now Chairman of the Friends in Britain. I will shortly present his report at this AGM. Of course, our Branch keeps in close contact with the Friends. Past President James Hayes wrote '[The standing of HKBRAS] is mirrored by the success of the Friends in UK and is very gratifying.' The Friends deserve our congratulations on their achievements. The setting up of this overseas group has been one of the most important events that have happened in recent years. It allows our members who return to Britain to live, to maintain links with the Territory and our Hong Kong Branch. In an effort to strengthen contacts among our overseas members who are not members of the 'Friends', we circulated a letter together with the 1999/2000 President's Report. In return, we received replies from Messrs Roderick MacLean MBE and B C Fawcett, who both now live in Britain. The latter is researching the Chinese Labour Corps that served with the Allies in France during World War One. It is good to hear from old friends. HKBRAS Library and finance Both our Honorary Librarian, Julia Chan, and our Honorary Treasurer, Robert Nield, who have contributed so much to our Branch, have prepared their own reports. These they will present at this AGM. I wish to make it clear that we depend on the professional experience of Julia and Robert a great deal. We are grateful for their assistance over many years. We are also grateful to the staff at the City Hall, and the staff of PricewaterhouseCoopers for their unfailing assistance and support. We are especially grateful to Mr Christian Stewart and to Ms Ada Loi, and of course to Robert for doing most of the work for our xxi ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-2000 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/nk328168n submission to the Inland Revenue Department for charitable institutional status. Accommodation Again we are grateful to our many good friends on whom we rely for accommodation. They include the Public Records Office, where our Journals and some of our archives are stored, the latter on permanent loan. We are also grateful to the City Hall where our lectures (which are run as joint functions with the City Hall) take place and again to PricewaterhouseCoopers who kindly allow us to hold committee meetings on their premises. A heartfelt thank you to all concerned. The Council Other than those that have to be taken at AGMs, all-important Branch decisions are made in Council to whom our membership has delegated the running of our Branch. The latter functions completely autonomously from our Headquarters in London and separately from other Branches in Asia. Over the past year the RASHKB Council has comprised two Vice Presidents, Drs Elizabeth Sinn and Michael Lau. Other members have included Robert Nield, Julia Chan, Valery Garrett, Bob Horsnell, Tim Ko and May Holdsworth. It has also included Drs Patrick Hase, Joseph Ting, Peter Barker, Peter Halliday and Janet Lee Scott. The Reverend Carl Smith, our Honorary Vice President, and Sarah Parnell as Assistant Secretary, and her successor, Mary Painter, have been co-opted, non-voting members. We are grateful to everyone who sat on the Council and gave of his or her time. Acknowledgements Having thanked Council and Activity Committee members, speakers and leaders of groups and various other persons, who have I failed to mention? Firstly we must thank HKBRAS members, Angus Forsyth and John Budge, for their valuable professional advice. Past Council member Geoffrey Roper still helps in various ways quietly behind the scenes as do some spouses of Council members. We value everyone's assistance. So many people and institutions have rendered help to us over the course of the year. It is quite possible that someone who deserves to be thanked has inadvertently slipped through the net. xxii ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-2000 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/nk328168n procedures and closer monitoring of overdue items. In August 2000, we were informed by City Hall Public Library that there were 26 long overdue books. Some of these outstanding items were borrowed as long ago as 1985. This raised the question of why we were not notified sooner so that prompt action could have been taken. It has been difficult to trace the missing items since some of the borrowers had already left Hong Kong and some could not be found. One member had shipped some borrowed books to England but promised to bring them back on his next trip to Hong Kong. City Hall Public Library has agreed to tighten up their loan system. Council members have also put great effort into contacting delinquent borrowers. To date, there are still 11 books outstanding. We will continue effort to trace them. The proposal to set up an exhibition and seminar on the old library of the Royal Asiatic Society, North China Branch with the new Hong Kong Central Library to coincide with its opening was postponed. Ms. Julia Chan (Hon. Librarian), Mr. Michael Mak (Assistant Director, Libraries & Development, Leisure & Cultural Services Department) and Ms. Alima Tuet (Chief Librarian, Hong Kong Central Library & Hong Kong) visited the Shanghai Library in May 2000 and found that books of the old library were still packed in boxes. These books cannot be inspected until the Shanghai building where they are housed is renovated in a year's time. As part of the digital initiative, HKU Libraries will be creating a database of scholarly journals published in Hong Kong. When accomplished, the database will be open to public access on the World Wide Web to provide convenient access to resources on Hong Kong and facilitate research on Hong Kong and China studies. RAS was approached in respect of this project. Since there is copyright concern, the Council agreed that all the tables of contents but only selected articles with copyright clearance from their authors would be digitised for the database. The HKBRAS Journal was the first journal to be digitised. The scanning process has been completed and the contents have been posted on the Web. There are still some technicalities to be resolved. This database allows browsing of the table of contents and keyword searching of the articles. Full text of the articles will be displayed clearance has been obtained. Since this database can be accessed worldwide, it will greatly help to publicise the Society and its Journal. xliii ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-2000 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/nk328168n Usage of the RAS collection for reference was similar to last year, but the numbers of borrowers and books loaned out have dropped by over 50%. It is expected that there will be an increase in usage when the Library moves to its new location. As reported by the City Hall Library Office, usage of the RAS Library for the period from 1 March 2000 to 20 February 2001 is as follows: No. of reference enquiries No. of books consulted 176 443 No. of borrowers No. of books loaned out 19 34 JULIA CHAN Hon. Librarian xliv Page 45 Page 46 ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-2001 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/zg651950g Hon. Librarian Julia Chan, B.A., M.L.A., A.H.I.P., F.H.K.L.A. Chairperson, Activities Committee Valery Garrett, B.A., Post Grad. Dip. Des. Councillors Joseph S.P. Ting, B.A., M.Phil., Ph.D Peter Stuckey Tim Ko Janet Lee Scott, Ph.D. May Holdsworth Co-opted Councillors Robert ('Bob') G. Horsnell Assistant Secretary Mary Painter V ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-2001 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/zg651950g Appendix Date Visits 2001 Sat April 28th: Sam Tung Uk Museum and Hoi Pa led by Valery Garrett Sat 26th May: Mount Davis and Pinewood Batteries led by Tim Ko. Sat 18th Aug: Preview of Hong Kong Museum of History led by Dr Joseph Ting. Sat 15th Sept: Tour of the new Central Library in Causeway Bay led by Julia Chan and Dr Pat Hase (two visits) Sat Sept 22nd: Private View - Chinese Textiles given by Valery Garrett and Chris Hall. Fri Sept 28th to Wed Oct 3rd: Korean Palaces in Seoul led by Dr Pat Hase. 2002 Sat 10th Nov: Visit to Dolphins led by Lindsay Porter. 8-19th Feb 2002: Bhutan, led by Dr Brian Shaw. Sat Feb 23rd: Guided tour of the Cultural Relics of the Great Wall Exhibition at the HKMH led by Dr Joseph Ting xxviii ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-2001 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/zg651950g Library for the period from 1 March 2001 to 28 February 2002 was as follows: No. of reference enquiries 230 No. of books consulted 306 No. of borrowers 12 No. of books loaned out 17 MS. JULIA CHAN HON. LIBRARIAN xliv ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-2002 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/mp4901278 1861) is both a tour de force and riveting, to boot. Ch'ëa was the keeper of a temple at Poklo. He was visited in 1856 by two colporteurs from Hong Kong who left him with a bible. On reading it, he was almost immediately converted to Christianity and was later baptised in Hong Kong becoming, essentially, a disciple of James Legge. He returned to Poklo where he pursued his faith with great, if not excessive, zeal, becoming an object of suspicion and hatred in many quarters. In October 1861 he was seized by a local vigilante squad, tortured, ordered to renounce his faith - which he refused to do - and was ultimately beheaded. Stephen Selby's interesting account of archery in China from the pre-Shang period to the end of the 19th century mirrors the excellent address that he recently gave to the Society. The indefatigable Keith Stevens takes us on a voyage of discovery into the history of Zhenjiang. As always the illustrations are wonderful. And Dan Waters reminisces about Hong Kong in the post-War years. There are a total of 18 NOTES AND QUERIES on a wide variety of subjects. Paul Bolding gives us some insights into the life of the intrepid Belgium aviator, Louis de San - who he ultimately met in 1988 with some interesting photographs. There is an amusing 1905 Christmas card from Arnold Graham - that great benefactor of the HKBRAS Library - and an account of the Library by our Hon. Librarian, Julia Chan. Peter Hansell discusses the famous clock maker Douglas Lapraik. Paul Harrison writes penetratingly on the highly unusual subject of restoring artefacts for display in Hong Kong's museums. Bob Horsnell continues his highly interesting pieces on old military installations. David Mahoney provides further insights into the Chinese Labour Corps in France during World War I. Martin Merz adds another follow up to Solomon's Bard's TEA AND OPIUM advising that Chinese and Indian teas are, essentially, the same (we live and learn!). Robert Nield's beautiful photographs of Bhutan which I messed up in Volume 41 are now reproduced in all their glory. I'll leave you to read The wrestling princes by Keith Stevens (a little suspense will do no harm). Peter Stuckey and Chris Bailey take us to St. John's (Shangchuan) Island to the southwest of Hong Kong where St. Francis Xavier died in 1552 (not, as I originally thought when skimming through the article, iv ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-2002 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/mp4901278 The Hong Kong Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society The Council, 2002-2003 President Patrick H. Hase, B.A., Ph.D. Immediate Past President Dan Waters, B.B.S., I.S.O., M.Phil., Ph.D., Dip. IET., F.C.I.O.B., F.C.M.I., Hon. Fellow RAS (Hong Kong Branch) Hon Vice President Carl T. Smith, B.A., M.Div., Hon. Fellow RAS (Hong Kong Branch) Vice Presidents Robert Nield, F.C.A. Elizabeth Sinn, B.B.S., B.A., M.Phil., Ph.D. Hon. Secretary Peter Stuckey, M.A. Hon. Treasurer Robert Nield, F.C.A. Hon. Librarian Julia Chan, B.A., M.L.A., A.H.I.P., F.H.K.L.A. Hon. Editor Peter Halliday Hon. Activities Co-ordinator Janet Lee Scott, B.A., M.A., Ph.D. Members Valery Garrett, B.A., Post Grad. Dip. Des. May Holdsworth, M.A. vii ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-2002 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/mp4901278 NOTES AND QUERIES Gliding: How Louis de San beat the Asian duration and altitude records in Chungking, China, in 1940, from the Belgian journal Aviation, Volume 2, Number 14, March 1946, translation by Paul Bolding 345 Paul Bolding - More on Louis de San 357 Arnold Graham's Shanghai Christmas card, 1905 Julia Chan - The Library of the Hong Kong Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society 361 373 James Hayes - Afterthoughts on South China Village Culture, Oxford University Press, 2001 385 393 became Kalekie drzewo Peter Hansell - The colourful Douglas Lapraik (1818-1869) Paul Harrison - Introducing the Conservation Section of the Hong Kong Government Peter Halliday - Adventures in publishing: How The Crippled Tree 377 381 ... Robert Horsnell - A note on the Japanese gun emplacement at Tathong Point, Tung Lung Chau......... 399 David Mahoney - More on THE CHINESE LABOUR CORPS IN FRANCE, 1917-1921: A new discovery .... 405 David Mahoney - Yet more on THE CHINESE LABOUR CORPS IN FRANCE, 1917-1921 .... 411 Martin Merz - Yet more on TEA AND OPIUM 413 February 2002... Robert Nield - Photographs from the HKBRAS' visit to Bhutan, Keith Stevens - The wrestling princes 417 431 xiv ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-2002 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/mp4901278 CONTRIBUTORS Andrew Abraham, is a noted Singaporean academic. Paul Bolding, works as a financial journalist at the news and information organisation Reuters in London. He has been with Reuters since 1974. He lived in Hong Kong from 1993 to 1997 and has travelled widely in Asia. Mr Bolding has previously worked in Europe and the Middle East including Brussels, Berlin and Nicosia. He is a co-author of the Insight Guide to Turkey (pbolding@onetel.net.uk) Julia Chan, is the Hon Librarian of HKBRAS and a member of Council (jlychan@hkucc.hku.hk). Chohong Choi, obtained a B.A. in History from Queens College of the City University of New York, and an M.Phil. in History from the University of Hong Kong. He is currently a research assistant in the Department of Real Estate & Construction at HKU. The late Arnold Graham, was an old China hand. He was well known for his steady stream of Letters to the Editor in Hong Kong under the pseudonym Ancient Gweilo (a play on his initials). He donated a large number of books to the Library of HKBRAS in 1994. He ultimately relocated to New Zealand where he passed away in 1996. Peter Halliday, was formerly an assistant commissioner with the Hong Kong Police Force and its chief information officer for over six years. He now heads his own information technology consulting and training company, Elite IT Services Ltd. He is the Hon Editor of HKBRAS and a member of Council (Peter.Halliday@e-liteitservices.com). Peter Hansell, is an active member of the Friends of HKBRAS in Great Britain. Paul Harrison, started his conservation career as a volunteer at Leicester Museum, U.K., in his school holidays. He has a B.Sc. in Archaeological Conservation and a M.Sc. in Archaeometallurgy from the Institute of Archaeology, now part of University College London. He has also worked for the Scottish Urban Archaeological Trust, the British School at Athens in Crete, studying an ancient Minoan City - Palaikastro - and Bradford University's Department of Archaeological Sciences. He was formally with the Central Conservation Division (Metals), Museum of History, Leisure and Cultural Services Department. He now heads his own conservation company, Phoenix Conservation Ltd., (paulehar@netvigator.com). xvi ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-2002 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/mp4901278 tertiary institutions, and among staff of scholarly institutions in Hong Kong. We were also hoping to encourage Membership from among those Members of the Hong Kong Anthropological Society not already Members of our Society. Unfortunately, little further has been achieved on this issue. Discussions with the Hong Kong Anthropological Society foundered on questions of confidentiality and privacy. I hope to be able to report better progress on this issue next year. The Library of the Society Our Honorary Librarian, Miss Julia Chan, will be reporting separately on the present position with regard to the library. I would like here merely to repeat what I said last year, that the move of the library to its new and permanent location in the Central Library at Causeway Bay was an opportunity for us to make a number of new departures and to introduce a number of new initiatives with regard to the library. A good deal of work on this has been undertaken over the year, and, although a great deal more still needs to be done, I expect to see a number of exciting new developments introduced during this next year. Among the new developments most likely are a new and far more sophisticated Index to the holdings of our library. We hope to be able to offer this to Members who would like to buy it during the year. Another new development, which unfortunately has been plagued with continuous problems with the contractors undertaking the work on behalf of the Hong Kong University Library, is the introduction of an on-line website-format Table of Contents of the Journal, including the full text of selected articles where copyright permission from the author for this to be done has been received. I am happy to say that this work has now been completed, and Members can now access this web-site: details are in the Honorary Librarian's Report. We are also deeply involved in a programme to put onto CDs the lectures given to the Society over the last decade or so. These will be held in the library as a permanent record. Alongside them we hope to have a CD copy of a number of important documentaries produced over the last decade or so by RTHK, so that these important programmes xxviii ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-2002 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/mp4901278 I would like to take this opportunity to express our deep appreciation to the Hong Kong Central Library for their great assistance during the year and for providing a fine home with well-equipped facilities for our Collection. MS. JULIA CHAN HON. LIBRARIAN 1 MARCH 2003 lii ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-2003 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/2v242g390 The Hong Kong Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society The Council, 2003-2004 President Patrick H. Hase, B.A., Ph.D. Immediate Past President Dan Waters, B.B.S., I.S.O., M.Phil., Ph.D., Dip. I.E.T., F.C.I.O.B., F.C.M.I., Hon. Fellow HKBRAS Hon Vice President Carl T Smith, B.A., M.Div., Hon. Fellow HKBRAS Vice Presidents Robert Nield, F.C.A. Elizabeth Sinn, B.B.S., B.A., M.Phil., Ph.D. Hon. Secretary Peter Stuckey, M.A. Hon. Treasurer Robert Nield, F.C.A. Hon. Librarian Julia Chan, B.A., M.L.A. Hon. Editor Peter Halliday Hon. Activities Co-ordinator Janet Lee Scott, B.A., M.A., Ph.D. Members Valery Garrett, B.A., Post Grad. Dip. Des. May Holdsworth, M.A. Tim Ko viii ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-2003 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/2v242g390 During the last year, Council had the opportunity of meeting with the current President of the parent Society in London. I hope that this can be taken further during the year. The Library of the Society Our Honorary Librarian, Miss Julia Chan, will be reporting separately on the present position with regard to the library. In general, the state of our Library is excellent, and the number of users is rising. Our website, which has proved to be of the greatest value in advertising the Society, is currently being up-dated and improved. I urge all Members to check the new format out! I would like to repeat what I have said before, and to thank Moody Tang for all her help in maintaining and up-dating the website. This is a heavy job, which Moody does extremely well. Thank you, Moody! Friends of the Royal Asiatic Society, Hong Kong, in the United Kingdom I have, in each of the last few years, reminded Members of the existence of our sister Society in the United Kingdom. This useful body allows Members moving from Hong Kong to the United Kingdom to continue their interests in the culture and history of the Hong Kong area, as well as providing a social venue where they can continue to meet up with old friends who, like them, have moved from Hong Kong to the United Kingdom. As to what the Friends do, I will shortly read an Annual Report on their activities sent to us by the Chairman of the Friends, Mr David Gilkes. Honorary Fellows of the Society During the year, Council agreed to change the title of Honorary Member of the Society to Honorary Fellow of the Society, since it was felt that this title more accurately indicated to the general public what the Society intends by the grant of the position. Council grants Honorary status to people it considers have deserved recognition by the Society, either because of their outstanding contribution to the development of the study of Hong Kong, and its history and society, or for their outstanding support and dedication to the work of the Society, or both. xxiv ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-2003 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/2v242g390 Library Usage 2002/2003 2003/2004 No of reference enquiries 179 231 No of books consulted 408 327 No of borrowers 28 19 No of books loaned out 67 24 I would like to take this opportunity to express our appreciation to the Hong Kong Central Library for their assistance and highly professional service to our members during the year. Ms. JULIA CHAN HON. LIBRARIAN 1 MARCH 2004 ADDITIONS LIST 2003/2004 Chen, Wen-te and Huang Ying-kuei Reflection on "Community Studies"; anthropological perspectives. Taipei: Institute of Ethnology, Academia Sinica, 2002. Choi, Jang Jip Post-cold war and peace: experiences, conditions and choices. Seoul: Asiatic Research Centre, 2003 Dargye, Yonten and Sorensen, P.K. The biography of Pha 'Brug-sgom-zhig-po called the current of compassion. Thimphu: National Library, 2001. Drewett, Peter L. Neolithic Sha Lo Wan: a late Neolithic settlement at Sha Lo Wan, Lantau Island, Hong Kong. London: Archetype Pub., 1995. Geisert, Bradley Kent Radicalism and its demise: the Chinese Nationalist Party, factionalism, and local elites in Jiangsu Province, 1924-1931. Ann Arbor, Michigan: Centre for Chinese Studies Publications, University of Michigan, c2001. xlii ================================================================================