Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong [????- ]

Submitted by David on

The Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong, or RAS HK, is a wonderful resource for anyone interested in Hong Kong's history.

On a recent (4 Dec 2021) episode of RTHK's Hong Kong Heritage show, host Annemarie evans talked to the society's president, Helen Tinsley, and council members Kwong Chi-Man and Davina Lee, talking about the society's own history, and what it offers to Hong Kong today.

To learn more about the society, their annual journal, and their regular talks and visits, visit their website at http://www.royalasiaticsociety.org.hk/

Type
Other
Status
Active
Photos of this organisation:
(see more)

Photos of this organisation:

David presenting at RAS event
2023

Comments

There is no time tunnel to go back in time.

Ep. 1

The good thing is RASHK has come up with an index of 64 years' journals, up to December 2024 already. (link)
That would be a good starting point, even for offline study, if you have some topics or keywords to look for. The journals are generally accessible for ordinary persons. Reading from the shoulders of the forerunners. These could be great resources to explore.

Journal and its contents are fully indexed, in two published indices for the first twenty issues up to 1980 (e.g. '71-'80 here), when Mr James Hayes was Hon. Editor for the latter 14 issues.

Above is a continuation of these first exercises by Rydings and Hayes. The current author is Dr. Tony Banham.

Ep. 2

The first generation of the Society was started in the 19th century Hong Kong. The branch's name is China Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society (1847-1858), which had published 6 volumes 'Transactions'. At least some of these preserved volumes are still available online.

From 1883 at least, we also see journals adopting similar title (viz. without the 'North'). That was by the North China branch actually (1856 - 1952), whose first journal was published in 1858.
Zooming in, e.g. in the Journal, with 'New Series' as part of the title, for the Year 1885, the members list published starts to cover persons resident in Hong Kong also.
     e.g. Lockhart-Stewart, J.H. is member since 1885

 

It is interesting that the breadth and depth of articles in above journals are much greater than one may imagine for the time in 19th century.

 

p.s. Hong Kong Heritage old programs are no longer available after some recent cleanup;
        appears no luck to recover it from initial searches,  even though it is just from 2021