RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1968 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/66833948d 56 NOTES ON HONG KONG LIBRARIES IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY H. A. RYDINGS* Those of us who have watched the rapid development of libraries of all kinds in Hong Kong since the new University Library building was opened in 1961 may sometimes think that there is no library history worth considering for the first hundred years of the existence of the Colony. Certainly an appeal to members of the Hong Kong Library Association, made some two years ago, for any information on the early history of Hong Kong libraries met with no immediate response. Later, however, my colleague Mr. G. W. Bonsall, in searching through local newspapers and other sources for information on other subjects, came across a number of items about libraries, which he kindly brought to my notice. The present article is based upon this, slightly augmented from other materials, and in no way purports to be a comprehensive history of Hong Kong libraries up to 1900. It is evident that much more remains to be found by the diligent searcher before such a history can be written. For the moment, however, this brief sketch based on what has so far come to light may be of interest as an introduction to Hong Kong's library history. Foremost of the early libraries in the Colony is undoubtedly the Victoria Library and Reading Rooms. 'Colonial', writing in 1933, stated: “A privately organised library was established in Hong Kong as far back as 1848. A small library with attached reading rooms was run by this organisation for some years, and really formed the basis on which the City Hall library was subsequently established." Although 'Colonial' does not name the library, he goes on to say: “In 1871, probably in view of the coming into being of the public library, the original institution, retaining its more or less private character, was organised into a club, which was known as the Victoria Club." As will be seen later, this makes it certain that the reference is to the Victoria Library. The next reference2 found to the Victoria Library & Reading Rooms is a report of the Annual General Meeting held on June * Mr. Rydings has been University Librarian at the University of Hong Kong since 1961. He is a member of Council of the Hong Kong Branch, Royal Asiatic Society and is currently its Hon. Librarian. ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1974 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/x633mp077 246 LIFE MEMBERS: ALLEYNE, Mrs. E. L. LIST OF MEMBERS - University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, H.K. ASOME, Mr. & Mrs. M. J. - 42, Conduit Road, Flat 7B, H.K. BELL, G. J. BOARD, D. B. M. BONSALL, G. W. - CALCINA, P. G. CARLSON, Miss R. E. CATER, Jack - CHAMBERS, J. W. CHAN, Alfred T. CHENG, T. C. - CHOA, Dr. Gerald H. CHUN, Miss Oy-Ling - CLARKE, Rev. Cyril S. CRONE, Dr. D. L. - DJOU, G. G. - EMERSON, G. C. - EVANS, Mrs. P. J.- EVANS, Paul J. — FABER, Mrs. Audrey FEHL, Prof. Noah E. - FRASER, A. P. - FRY, R. A. - FUNG, Sir Kenneth Ping-fan, O.B.E., J.P. GORDON, The Hon. Sir S. GORDON, K. H. A.. HARDEN, Mrs. Guy HAYES, J. W. c/o The Royal Observatory, Nathan Road, Kowloon. c/o Education Dept., Lee Gardens, Hysan Avenue, H.K. The Library, University of Hong Kong, H.K. Commercial Investment Co. Ltd., Union House, 12F, H.K. c/o Education Dept., Lee Gardens, Hysan Avenue, H.K. 8, Mount Kellet Road, The Peak, H.K. c/o Colonial Secretariat, Lower Albert Rd., H.K. Coronet Court, 14th floor, “H”, North Point, H.K. United College, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T. Medical & Health Dept., Lee Gardens, Hysan Avenue, H.K. St. Paul's Convent School, Causeway Bay, H.K. Sailors & Soldiers Home, 22, Hennessy Rd., H.K. 16A, Bellevue Court, 41, Stubbs Road, H.K. c/o American International Assurance Co. Ltd., A.L.A. Building, 17th floor, 1. Stubbs Road, H.K. 1, Lower Albert Road, H.K. 33, Tung Tau Wan Road, Stanley, H.K. Ray-O-Vac International Corp., 604, Chartered Bank Building, H.K. 10, Cooper Road, Jardine's Lookout, H.K. Dept. of World History, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T. c/o Binnie & Partners, 1717 Star House, Salisbury Road, Kowloon. Office of the Commissioner of Rating & Valuation, 1, Garden Road, H.K. 2705-2718, Connaught Centre, H.K. c/o Sir Elly Kadoorie & Sons, St. George's Building, 24th floor, H.K. 501, Marina House, H.K. 15, Shek-O, H.K. 7, The Albany, H.K, ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1979 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/2801w5938 236 LOCAL LIFE MEMBERS ALLEYNE, Mrs. E. L. The Registry, University of Hong Kong, HONG KONG. ASOME, Mrs. Josephine Kingly Court, Flat B-G, 5-11 South Bay Close. Repulse Bay, HONG KONG BELL, Mr Gordon, c/o The Royal Observatory, Nathan Road, KOWLOON, BOARD, Mr. D. B. M., c/o The Education Department, Lee Gardens, Hysan Avenue, HONG KONG. BONSALL, Mr. Geoffrey W. Hong Kong University Press, University of Hong Kong, HONG KONG, BUTT, Dr. Nancy S. G. The Grantham Hospital, Wong Chuk Hang, Aberdeen, HONG KONG CALCINA, Mr. P. G., Commercial Investment Co. Ltd., Lane Crawford House, HONG KONG CARLSON, Miss R E., c/o Education Dept., Lee Gardens, Hysan Avenue, HONG KONG. CATER, Sir Jack, Victoria House, Barker Road, HONG KONG. CHAMBERS, Mr. J. W., c/o Colonial Secretariat, Lower Albert Road, HONG KONG. CHAN, Mr. Alfred T., Coronet Court, 14th Floor H, North Point, HONG KONG. CHENG, Mr. T, C., Flat B4, Camelot Height, 66 Kennedy Road, HONG KONG, CHIU, Dr. Ling Yeong, c/o Dept. of Chinese, University of Hong Kong, HONG KONG, CHOA, Dr. Gerald H., c/o Chinese University of H.K., Shatin, NEW TERRITORIES. CHUN, Miss Oy-Ling, St. Paul's Convent School, Causeway Bay, HONG KONG. COMBER, Mr. Leon, K.P.O. Box 96086, KOWLOON. COSBY, Mr. Ivan P. S. G., c/o Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corp., 1 Queen's Road Central, HONG KONG. CRAMER, Mr. B. L. C., 1A Verbena Road, G/Fl., Yau Yat Chuen, KOWLOON. CRONE, Dr. D. L., The Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club, 2 Sports Road, HONG KONG. DJOU, Mr. G. G., c/o American International Assurance Co. Ltd., American International Building, 1 Stubbs Road, HONG KONG. EMERSON, Mr. Geoffrey C., 1 Lower Albert Road, HONG KONG, EVANS, Mr. Paul J., Ray-O-Vac International Corp. 405 Hang Chong Building, Queen's Road Central, HONG KONG. EVANS, Mrs. P. J., 33 Tung Tau Wan Road, Stanley, HONG KONG. ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1981 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/ff36bt18m 211 ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY HONG KONG BRANCH MEMBERSHIP LIST (As at 31st December, 1982) Patron H.E. Sir Murray Maclehose, G.B.E., K.C.M.G., K.C.V.O., HONORARY MEMBERS The Aide-de-Camp, Government House LAM, Mr. Yung-fai LAWRY, Mr. R.E. MACLEHOSE, Sir Murray, G.B.E., K.C.M.G., K.C.V.O. O'HARA, Mrs. Margaret, TOPLEY, Dr. Marjorie, LOCAL LIFE MEMBERS ALLEYNE, Mrs. E.L. BOARD, Mr. D.B.M. BONSALL, Mr. G.W. BUTT, Dr. N.S.G. CALCINA, Mr. P.G. CHAMBERS, Mr. J.W. CHAN, Mr. Alfred T. CHENG, Mr. Tuck CHIU, Dr. Ling Yeong, CHOA, Dr. Gerald H. CHUN, Miss Oy-ling COMBER, Mr. Leon CRAMER, Mr. B.L.C. CRONE, Dr. D.L. DJOU, Mr. G.G. DUNCAN, Mrs. Josephine EMERSON, Mr. Geoffrey C. EVANS, Mr. Paul J. EVANS, Mrs. P.J. FABER, Mrs. Audrey FAULKNER, Mr. Raymond J. FOK, Miss Nora FREMANTLE, Mr. Adam FRY, Mr. R.A. FUNG, Mrs. Beatrice, GAFF, Mrs. Jennifer A. GORDON, The Hon. Sir S.S. GREEN, Mrs. Judith HASE, Dr. Patrick H. HAYES, Dr. James W. HAYIM, Mr. E.J. HO, Mr. Tick-on HONEY, Dr. N.R. HOPKINSON, Mrs. I. HOWARD, Mr. William James HOWNAM-MEEK, Mrs. R.S. HOYNINGEN-HUENE, Baron Ture von HU, Dr. Shih Chang HUI, Miss Wai Haan HUNG, Mr. Chiu-sing IU, Miss Sheila KINOSHITA, Mr. James H. KVAN, Rev. Erik LAI, Mr. T.C LAU, Dr. Michael Wai-Mai LAWRENCE, Mrs. B.M.I. LEE, Mr. J.S. LEE, Dr. R.C. LETHBRIDGE, Mr. H.J. LEUNG, Mr. Pak-Kui LI, Mr. David K.P. FUNG, Sir Kenneth Ping-Fan, O.B.E., J.P. LISOWSKI, Prof. F.P. LISOWSKI, Mrs. W.Y. GILKES, Mr. David GORDON, Mr. K.H.A. LIU, Mr. D.H. LO, Mr. T.S. Page 225 Page 226 ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1982 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/mk61z420p Page 363 ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY HONG KONG BRANCH MEMBERSHIP LIST AS AT 31ST DECEMBER, 1982* PATRON: H.E. SIR EDWARD YOUDE, G.C.M.G., M.B.E., GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG. HONORARY MEMBERS THE AIDE-DE-CAMP LAM, Mr. Y. F. LAWRY, Mr. R.E. MACLEHOSE, Baron O'HARA, Mrs. M. TOPLEY, Dr. M. YOUDE, Sir Edward ALLEYNE, Mrs. E.L. BOARD, Mr. D.B.M. BONSALL, Mr. G.W. BUTT, Dr. N.S.G. LOCAL LIFE MEMBERS CALCINA, Mr. P.G. CHAMBERS, Mr. J.W. CHAN, Mr. A.T. CHENG, Mr. T.C. CHIU, Dr. L.Y. CHOA, Dr. G.H. CHUN, Miss O.L. COMBER, Mr. L. CRAMER, Mr. B.L.C. CRONE, Dr. D.L. DJOU, Mr. G.G. DUNCAN, Mrs. J. EMERSON, Mr. G.C. EVANS, Mr. P.J. EVANS, Mrs. P.J. FAULKNER, Mr. R.J. FOK, Miss N. FREMANTLE, Mr. A. FRY, Mr. R.A. FUNG, Mrs. L. FUNG, Sir Kenneth P.F. GAFF, Mrs. J.A. GILKES, Mr. D. GORDON, The Hon. Sir S.S. GREEN, Mrs. J. HASE, Dr. P.H. HAYES, Dr. J.W. HAYIM, Mr. E.J. HO, Mr. T. HONEY, Dr. N.R. HOPKINSON, Mrs. I. HOTUNG, Mr. J.E. HOWARD, Mr. W.J. HOWNAM-MEEK, Mr. R.S. HOYNINGEN-HUENE, Baron T. von HU, Dr. S.H. HUI, Miss W.H. HUNG, Mr. C.S. IU, Miss S. KINOSHITA, Mr. J.H. KVAN, Rev. E. LAI, Mr. T.Y. LAU, Mr. M.W.M. LAWRENCE, Mrs. B.M.L. LEE, Mr. J.S. LEE, Dr. R.C. LEE, Mrs. S.J. LETHBRIDGE, Mr. H.J. LEUNG, Mr. P.K. LI, Mr. D.K.P. LIU, Mr. D.H. LO, Mr. T.S. LOSEBY, Miss P. LUK, Mr. G.P.C. LUM, Miss A. MACKENZIE, Mr. J. MACKEOWN, Dr. P.K. MARDEN, Mrs. J.L. McCRARY, Mr. M. MCKEIRNAN, Rev. M. MCINTYRE, Mr. W.M. NORONHA, Mr. J.E. OGDEN, Mr. B.J.N. OU, Miss G. PAIN, Mr. J.H. PICCUS, Mr. R.P. RAE, Mr. J.A. RAWLINSON, Mr. M.C. RAYNER, Mrs. C.M. RIDE, Lady May RUST, Mr. H.A. RYDINGS, Mr. H.A. SEED, Mr. B. *Honours and Decorations of Members are not noted in this list. Page 363 ================================================================================