Royal Aiatic Society Hong Kong
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ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY NEWSLETTER HONG KONG E-mail: [email protected] Tel: + (852) 2234 5011 Fax: + (852) 2234 5039 GPO Box 3864, Hong Kong www.royalasiaticsociety.org.hk http://www.facebook.com/RoyalAsiaticSocietyHongKong Twitter: RASHK 1959 September 2018 Photo by and courtesy of Ivy Ho Lugard Falls • The Peak 山頂 • 盧吉飛瀑 Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong 2018 2 Contents NOTE FROM ONE OF YOUR VICE PRESIDENTS 3 FUTURE ACTVITIES Sat, 15 Sep 2018 Local Visit Visit to Tai Kwun 4 Wed, 19 Sep 2018 Lecture Arnholds: China Trader 6 Fri, 5 Oct 2018 Lecture 100 Years of Columban Mission 8 Sun, 28 Oct 2018 Local Visit Visit to the Jewish Cemetery in Happy Valley 9 Thu, 1 Nov 2018 Lecture Israel and China: From the Tang Dynasty to 10 Silicon Wadi Sat, 3 Nov 2018 Local Visit Visit to the CUHK Art Museum Exhibition 11 ‘Refilling the Interregnum’ of the Ming Dynasty Fri, 11 Jan – Fri, 18 Jan Overseas Trip to Northern Thailand & Overland to Laos 12 Trip RECENT ACTIVITIES Sat, 14 Jul 2018 ‘Bosshard in China’ Photo Exhibition 15 Sat, 25 Aug 2018 An Age of Luxury: the Assyrians to Alexander 16 OF GENERAL INTEREST Sun, 29 Jul 2018 King Yin Lei Open Day 17 Wed, 10 Oct 2018 Invitation from Royal Commonwealth 18 Society Hong Kong Branch to RAS HK members: Through American Eyes 7 Sep to 8 Mar 2019 Greater China Legal History Seminar Series 19 2018-19 presented by the Law Faculty of the Chinese University of Hong Kong St. John’s Cathedral Shop 20 2018 Membership Renewal 20 Welcome to New Members 20 PUBLICATIONS 21 CONTACT DETAILS 23 Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong 2018 3 Note from one of your Vice Presidents The Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong (RASHK) organises many interesting, informative, well-researched and enjoyable events and visits on topics of interest to members and the general public. As members we are all indebted to the hard work of our Activities Committee. In addition to RASHK events, there are many other opportunities to experience and explore Hong Kong’s heritage. Here are three recent examples. First, RASHK member, Martin Merz, has recently accomplished a major task – the co-translation from Chinese with Jane Weizhen Pan of the famous Chinese writer, Eileen Chang’s novel, Little Reunions. Martin recently gave a well-received talk at the University of Hong Kong Libraries’ Book Club on Little Reunions and on his work in co-translating it. (A review by the present writer of Chang’s The Fall of the Pagoda and The Book of Change (both, Hong Kong University Press, [September] 2010) appeared in a recent RASHK Journal.) Members will remember that Eileen Chang attended the University of Hong Kong for a while and has given first-hand accounts of the Battle of Hong Kong from a student’s perspective. Right: RASHK Member, Mr Martin Merz shows his co-translation of Eileen Chang’s novel, “Little Reunions”, before his book-talk at HKU. Photo by and courtesy of Gillian Bickley. On 30 June, those attending the 12th Hong Kong Literature Festival at the Hong Kong Central Library (where the RASHK Library Collection is housed) were attracted by the colour and loud music in Victoria Park, across the road. The “Hong Kong Celebration Association” event showcased extraordinary athleticism from the lion-dancers against the compelling beat of the drums. Left: Lion-dance event at Victoria Park, 30 June 2018. Photo by and courtesy of Gillian Bickley. Alumni and teachers are dedicating enthusiasm, research, expertise and continuing effort in building up the Queen’s College History Museum. As the first Hong Kong school to be founded and fully funded by the Hong Kong Government (it opened in 1862 as “The Hong Kong Government Central School for Boys”), its history is of particular interest. The much-admired first headmaster Dr Frederick Stewart (1836-1889) later became the first Hong Kong Government official to be appointed Colonial Secretary (i.e. head of the local administration). His life and work is described, among other publications, in Stewart’s biography, The Golden Needle (1997). Queen’s College School Principal, Ms LI sui-wah, RASHK Vice-President Dr Gillian Bickley, Queen’s College Assistant Principal Mr CHIU Sin-hang, flanked by QC alumni Mr Tony LAU Hon Yiu, Mr John KWOK and Mr Joseph YU. Photo by and courtesy of Queen’s College History Museum. We look forward to seeing Members at the forthcoming excellent events and talks that the Activities Committee is organising and to experiencing daily serendipity. Gillian Bickley Vice-President Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong 2018 4 Future Activities LOCAL VISIT Visit to Tai Kwun 《參觀大館》 Tai Kwun Centre for Heritage and Arts. Photo by and courtesy of Connie Carmichael Tai Kwun is the Centre for Heritage and Arts, a place of inspiration, stimulation and enjoyment for all Hong Kong people. Tai Kwun aspires to offer the best heritage and arts experiences, and to cultivate knowledge and appreciation of contemporary art, performing arts and history in the community. It is situated in the restored Central Police Station compound, one of the most significant revitalisation projects in Hong Kong, comprising three declared monuments—the former Central Police Station, Central Magistracy and Victoria Prison. The revitalisation project has been led by The Hong Kong Jockey Club in partnership with the Government of the Hong Kong SAR. Tai Kwun is the trading name of the Jockey Club CPS Limited, the not-for-profit operator set up by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust to manage the revitalized-site. The highest standards of heritage conservation have been applied at Tai Kwun, with unfailing attention to authenticity, bringing more than a dozen historic buildings to life. In contrast to their original functions as police station, courthouse and prison, the buildings are now fully on display, giving the public the chance to appreciate up close their contrasting architectural features and fine design details. Visitors will be immersed in the rich heritage of the unique historical compound through interactive tours, heritage storytelling spaces, diverse education programmes and thematic heritage exhibitions. These programmes offer insights into the history of our city and the role of law and order in our society contributing to Hong Kong’s distinctive character as a major world city. The new building, JC Contemporary, houses a not-for-profit art centre dedicated to presenting contemporary art exhibitions and programmes as a platform for a flourishing cultural discourse in Hong Kong. It hosts six to eight exhibitions annually alongside extensive public programmes. Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong 2018 5 Future Activities Tai Kwun’s performing arts programmes aim to bring to life the many remarkable spaces both indoors and outdoors through events which have been designed and tailored to suit these unique venues. JC Cube, the Laundry Steps, the Prison Yard and the Parade Ground will become performance spaces for theatre, music, dance and film, with a wide range of programming to appeal to all audiences. Tai Kwun also beckons visitors to enjoy an array of lifestyle offerings. The wide-ranging culinary landscape allows visitors to choose between light refreshments or fine dining, while retail shops offer the finest selections of curated books, gifts and apparel. Engaging programmes and workshops will also be hosted to echo the rich heritage and energetic contemporary programme offerings at Tai Kwun. Programme Intro: Brief introduction by Tai Kwun staff upon arrival Date: Sat, 15 Sep 2018 Time: 10: 30 a.m. Assembly Point: TBC Venue: 10 Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong Quota: 25 pax Admission: Free for RAS Members / Guests Booking: Please email <[email protected]> in advance to reserve your place. ****** Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong 2018 6 Future Activities LECTURE Arnholds: China Trader 《歐商安利》 Vaudine England’s new book, Arnholds: China Trader, is a forensic account of early trading along the China coast and life in bygone treaty ports. It is particularly interesting today since China’s determination to become a mighty political and military power under President Xi Jinping is accompanied by a drumbeat of resentment about its 19th-century defeats. The late Qing dynasty (1644-1911) saw China crippled by corruption. Taking advantage of the situation, foreign powers used their military strength to win the right to import and export through China’s treaty ports – as well as the European colonies of Hong Kong and Macau – and to set up trading posts replete with sporting clubs, Masonic lodges and amateur dramatic societies. Arnhold was established by young pioneering traders Jacob Arnhold, Peter Karberg and Alexander Levysohn who traded for firms on Shameen Island, Guangzhou, before setting up Arnhold Karberg & Co in 1866 in Hong Kong. In 1881 they established their headquarters in Shanghai, heralding the beginning of a strong business presence in Hong Kong and throughout China. By the turn of the century, 37 offices were in operation in China with buying offices in London, Manchester, Berlin and New York. Controlling interest in Arnhold passed to the powerful Sassoon Group in the 1930's and the business flourished until 1949 when, with the change of Government in China, the headquarters relocated to Hong Kong. Maurice Green, who had been associated with the company since the Sassoon takeover, acquired the controlling interest in Arnhold in 1957. Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong 2018 7 Future Activities The Speaker Vaudine England has worked for many years in journalism in Hong Kong and across South East Asia, for various newspapers, the BBC, and the Far Eastern Economic Review. She now concentrates on in-depth research and writing of Hong Kong history, and its links to SE Asia.