Library

The Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong Branch Collection

Background

In the tradition of the Royal Asiatic Society in London and its other branches, the Hong Kong Branch has established a collection of books within its field of interest and added to it steadily over the years by purchase, gift and exchange.  Today, our branch has a splendid library which includes a large number of valuable books.

The Collection

The collection comprises more than 5,700 titles of books, periodicals, pamphlets, photo albums, microforms, audiovisual materials and CD-ROMs, covering oriental subjects and cultures of China and the Far East.

There are several contemporary works relating to Britain’s first embassy to China in 1793-94 as well as some important books recounting the establishment of British Hong Kong in 1840-42. The collection has been added to by absorbing the library of the old Hong Kong Club, the South China Morning Post’s pre-war library and from Madam du Breuil, a former resident of Peking who served briefly on our Council before her death in the 1960’s. Other outstanding additions include five albums of F.A. Nixon containing photographs of his collection of Nestorian Crosses, over 400 volumes of the oriental library of the late of Mr. Arnold Graham and a superb copy of a two-volume reproduction of a series of nineteenth century Chinese woodcuts from Shanghai.

Usage of the Library

The library of the Hong Kong Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society is on long term loan to Central Library, 66 Causeway Road, Causeway Bay.

Members of the Society are welcome to use the library. To borrow books, it is necessary to produce your membership card on the 9/F before accessing the Special Collections on the 7/F.  For security and better preservation of rare and valuable materials, pre-1900 materials (with selected rare post-1900 materials) are for in-house use only. The collection is also open to the academic community, students and general public for consultation. Users must observe the library regulations governing the RASHKB Collection. If you have any queries concerning the RAS collection please contact Miss Julia Chan, the Hon. Librarian, at tel.: 2819 9286 and fax no. 2855 9343.

To access the on-line RASHKB Library Catalogue (within the Central Library's Special Collections), click the links below:
English interface
Chinese interface

Instructions on using the RASHKB Collection HKCL Online Catalogue:

From either the interface links above:

To search	To browse
Select: <Search option> : AUTHOR or TITLE or SUBJECT, etc. Type: desired term at <Enter your search term(s)> If the book is available in the RASHKB collection, it will be displayed as follows: Library: Hong Kong Central Status: On Shelf Location: Reference: on request	Select: <Search option> : AUTHOR or TITLE or SUBJECT Type: letter "a" or any other letter at <Enter your search term(s)> A listing of all titles / authors / subjects starting with that specific letter will be displayed.

Print catalogue and recent additions to the collection

A print catalogue of the collection serves as a handy guide to the RASHKB library materials. Consisting of three volumes, namely the 'Author Catalogue', the 'Title Catalogue' and the 'Call Number List', it is a printed compilation of all catalogue records of materials, including monographs, periodicals and non-print materials. Items that belong to the Rare Book Collection and the Arnold Graham Collection of the RASHKB library are also indicated in the catalogue. The first print catalogue details items deposited before Jun 2005 and will be updated by periodic revisions. The print catalogue is kept at the reception desk on 9/F, Central Library.

Lists of additions to the Library in recent years are available:

The Additions List 2000/2001	The Additions List 2006/2007
The Additions List 2001/2002	Donations - April 2006
The Additions List 2002/2003	Donations - May 2006
The Additions List 2003/2004	Donations - July 2006
The Additions List 2004/2005	Donations - December 2006
The Additions List 2005/2006

All are PDF files, requiring Adobe Acrobat Reader. To download, click the icon

Hong Kong Journals Online

As part of the HKU Libraries digital initiatives, all the table of contents of the Journal of the Hong Kong Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society are available for browsing on the Hong Kong Journals Online Database. Full text of the articles will also be displayed if copyright clearance has been obtained from the authors.