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 2017 Mid-Autumn Festival – Red Lanterns in Wanchai Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong 2017 Contents PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE 3 FUTURE ACTIVITIES Tue, 12 Sep 2017 Lecture & Local Visit Hungry Ghost Festival 5 Wed, 27 Sep 2017 Lecture When True Love Came to China 7 Sat, 7 Oct 2017 Local Visit Visit to Mui Wo 8 Fri, 17 – Wed, 22 Nov 2017 Overseas Visit Trip to North Vietnam 10 RECENT ACTIVITIES Wed, 21 Jun 2017 Visit to the HSBC Archives 13 Sat, 26 Aug 2017 Longevity & Virtues 15 OF GENERAL INTEREST Wed, 19 - Tue 25 Jul 2017 Hong Kong Book Fair 2017 16 Fri, 13 - Sun, 15 Oct 2017 Kaiping Visit & Yangkou Community 17 Project Update St. John’s Cathedral Shop 18 2017 Membership Renewal 18 PUBLICATIONS 19 CONTACT DETAILS 22 2 Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong 2017 President’s Message Notwithstanding the record rainfall that Hong Kong received in July I thought this year we were getting away lightly when it came to typhoons. That was obviously a premature thought. August has proved to be a very tempestuous month with Typhoon Hato (T10) and Typhoon Pakhar (T8) raging through the Territory within five days of each other. I was amazed to see the television reports of the flooding in Heng Fa Chuen, where the sea washed over the harbour wall. In Central too the scene was one of devastation. Several trees have been uprooted including one large tree which narrowly missed the statue of Sir Thomas Jackson. The arrival of the second typhoon on Sunday 28 August was a particular blow for the Union Church in Kennedy Road. Established in 1844 by the Church Missionary Society, it is one of Hong Kong’s oldest churches. The current building was erected in 1949, which for a Hong Kong building is quite old, and replaced an earlier one destroyed by bombs during World War II. The raising of the T8 typhoon signal at dawn meant that the two morning services at 9.30 am and 11.00 am had to be cancelled. Fortunately, the evening service still went ahead following the lowering of the signals. The Church will now close for a period of five years while the site undergoes redevelopment. As the building is graded a category III monument it enjoys no special protection in terms of heritage preservation. The Hong Kong Trade Development Council held its annual HK Book Fair in July. Once again this was held at the Wanchai Exhibition and Convention Centre. I am pleased to report that, thanks to the assistance of the City University of Hong Kong Press, space was offered on their booth for the display and sale of copies of the RAS Journal. I would particularly like to thank Mr Edmund Chan Ka Yeung, Associate Director and Ms Joanna Pierce, Editor for their support and interest in making this possible. This was a first for our Society and I hope not the last. The City University Press are now the partner publisher for the Sir Lindsay and Lady Ride Trust Fund and are now publishing the RAS Hong Kong Study Series. Also on sale at their booth were two new titles published this year. The two titles are, Forgotten Heroes by Patrick Hase and Strong to Save by Stephen Davies. Both authors are long time members of the RASHK and members of Council. These titles will now be posted on the website, where the full list of titles under the Hong Kong Study series can be viewed. Although our sales were not great I believe ‘every little counts’ and this was an initiative worth trying as it gave the Society exposure. The Council recognizes that marketing the Society’s activities and publications is an important aspect which is, perhaps overlooked at times. If any member has experience in marketing or sales, or has any ideas as to how the Society can better project itself please let us hear your ideas. Many of you have or probably will soon be returning from your summer holidays. This issue announces our programme for the coming two months and advanced notice is given of the second overseas visit (ex-China), which will be to Vietnam. The programme is varied and includes a talk and visit to a local Hong Kong festival (Hungry Ghost Festival). Lynn Pan, always a popular speaker, will be visiting from Shanghai and speaking in September and we have a special afternoon planned in October involving an afternoon visit to Mui Wo hosted by RASHK members Bob and Sally Bunker. This last event continues a theme, started a few years ago where members are encouraged to talk or lead a visit to the area where they live or have some special knowledge of. 3 Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong 2017 President’s Message I encourage more members to consider thinking about leading such an event. As with all events especially the outside visits may I please request you book early and give notice early if you cannot attend. Also included for general interest is a notice from RASHK member Peter Stuckey concerning a visit to Hoi Ping. Several members will recall a very interesting Society visit to Hoi Ping in January this year. This notice is given for general information should members wish to participate in a private capacity. (Please note the event is not part of the RASHK programme and the Society is not responsible for its organisation.) On a final note may I once again remind all members that the Society needs your help to increase its membership. Currently our membership stands at approximately 450 members. In the past year we have lost several members for a variety of reasons but mostly due to change of circumstances or leaving Hong Kong. Please do bring your friends and colleagues along to our events and get them interested in what your Society does. Michael Broom President 4 Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong 2017 Future Activities LECTURE & LOCAL VISIT Hungry Ghost Festival The Hungry Ghost Festival, (Yu Lan Festival 盂蘭節), is a traditional Buddhist and Taoist festival held in many Asian countries. It opens during the seventh lunar month and is held all over Hong Kong. In 2011 it was entered in China’s national list of intangible heritage. Tuesday 12th September is the second night of the festival. During this seventh lunar month (the ‘Ghost Month’ 鬼月), the gates of Hell are opened and ghosts roam the earth to seek food and entertainment. These ghosts and spirits, including those of deceased ancestors, come out from the lower realms, and are believed to visit the living. Altars are built for the deceased and priests and monks perform rituals for the benefit of ghosts which includes ritualistic food offerings, burning incense and paper items such as clothes, hell bank notes, gold and other replicas to appease the spirits, so that these homeless souls do not intrude upon the living and bring misfortune. The ‘King of Ghosts’ in place of honour, Shatin, 2015 A previously organised RAS visit to the festival was held in 1992. This time we also include an illustrated talk by Sylvia Fok-Midgett, a local historian/photographer/writer, who will explain the history of the event and forms of celebration in Hong Kong. After the talk, we then take a private coach to Moreton Terrace, Causeway Bay, to see (and hear!) some typical ceremonies, look in at the Cantonese opera and see a huge effigy of the King of Ghosts. The Speaker Sylvia Fok-Midgett is a Hong Kong born photographer/ historian who has written articles on local culture and heritage and has made a particular study of the Fire Dragon Festival over many years. 5 Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong 2017 Future Activities Programme Speaker: Sylvia Fok-Midgett Date: Tuesday, 12 September 2017 Provisional Time: 6.15–7.30 p.m.: Café 8 (HK Maritime Museum) Welcome drinks, followed by an illustrated talk on the history and significance of the festival by Sylvia Fok- Midgett; light meal/snacks in Cafe 8 are included. 7.45 p.m.: Board our private a/c coach, to Moreton Terrace, Causeway Bay. 8.00-9.30 p.m.: Walk to the adjoining playground and see some ‘Yu Lan’ opera in the temporary mat-shed theatre, as well as traditional ceremonies. 9.30 p.m.: Visit ends, but Members are recommended to visit nearby Victoria Park, to see many temporary stalls, altars and ceremonies set up for this special event; good for souvenirs and late-night snacks. Venue: Café 8, Roof Level, Hong Kong Maritime Museum, Central Ferry Pier No. 8, Central, Hong Kong Admission: RAS Members $150; Non-Members / Guests $200 Booking: Please email Bill Greaves <[email protected]> to reserve your place and when confirmed send cheque to RAS (HK), GPO BOX 3864, Hong Kong N.B. Please book early, latest Mon, 4 Sep 2017 ****** 6 Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong 2017 Future Activities LECTURE When True Love Came to China Most people suppose that the whole world knows what it is to love; that romantic love is universal, quintessentially human. Such a supposition has to be able to meet three challenges. It has to justify its underlying assumption that all cultures mean the same thing by the word ‘love’ regardless of language. It has to engage with the scholarly debate on whether or not romantic love was invented in Europe and is uniquely Western.