Newsletter of 20 Augest 2000

Our Hong Kong Branch has been in existence for 40 years now, and in celebration of our anniversary, we plan to hold a one-day conference in December. Organised by our Vice President, Dr. Elizabeth Sinn and her Committee, and co-sponsored by the Hong Kong Museum of History, the seminar promises to be a fascinating look at life in Hong Kong during the past forty years. The planned date for this event is 9 December, and full details will be included in the next newsletter, 20 October.

Enclosed with this mailing is a confidential Members’ survey prepared by the Activities Committee. Please take the time to reply, as your responses will help us match future activities to your interests.

As always, Valery Garrett and her Activities Committee have come up with a varied and interesting schedule of events to start off the autumn. We are fortunate to have Prof. Puay Peng Ho of the Chinese University tell us about the Chi Lin Nunnery, and then lead us on a visit there the following day. Patrick Hase has booked a week-long excursion to Central Vietnam, planned to coincide with the two holidays in early October. If you are interested, please sign up soon, by 15^th September. Geoff Lovegrove will tell us about the Lantau Mountain Camp this Friday, and David Mahoney, long time former resident of Hong Kong visiting from England, will share his knowledge about medals presented to Britons, at a City Hall Lecture in late October.

Looking at the “RAS Business” section of this newsletter, you will note that the position of Assistant Secretary of the Society is going to open this autumn. This is a varied and interesting job, and provides an opportunity to work with a fascinating group of people.

Friday 22^nd September City Hall Lecture The Achitecture of the Chi Lin Nunnery

Friday 27^th October City Hall Lecture Awards to Britons in the Service to China, David Mahoney

Venue: Extension Activities Room, 8^th Floor, City Hall High Block, Edinburgh Place, Central

“High up the ridge of an island, just off the South China coast, sits a unique retreat, known only slightly by the multitudes of Hong Kong, but dearly loved by a dedicated group of campers scattered around the world.” Thus begins the official history of what can only be described as one of Hong Kong’s better-kept secrets. Not that it was ever intended it should be secret but, given that relatively few people take to the mountains of Lantau in summer, only those with a great love of the outdoors ever become infected by the sights and sounds of campers enjoying themselves on the main ridge of Sunset Peak. For the rest of the year, the 20 or so cabins located on the 1,500 metre long ridge stand for the most part apparently desolate, used only on occasional weekends.

The camp has its origins in the mission organisations working in South China in the early part of the last century when, for a variety of reasons, missionaries started coming down to Hong Kong for summer furloughs. Three quarters of a century and many typhoons later, the camp is still there and used, a place without air conditioners or television, where campers still drink water from a stream, where grown-ups relax and children enjoy games that only the imagination of childhood can invent. Geoff Lovegrove will tell more of the past and present of this little known corner of Hong Kong.

Geoff grew up in Ireland where hills and sea were always close at hand. He joined a firm of consulting engineers and after working on projects in Fiji, Lebanon, Australia, and the Falkland Islands was eventually sent to Hong Kong, and is still here 25 years later. He and his family were introduced to Lantau Mountain Camp a couple of years after they arrived in Hong Kong.

Venue: Extension Activities Room, 8^th Floor, City Hall High Block, Edinburgh Place, Central

The Chi Lin Nunnery, built at a cost of millions in Tang Dynasty style, opened to the public in May. An ingenious blend of ancient architecture and modern technology, the project has harnessed the skills of designers and architects in Hong Kong, China, and Japan.

The Tang Dynasty is considered a golden age in Chinese history, and the center and symbol of its glory was the ancient city of Chang’an (Xian), eastern terminus of the Silk Road. A brilliant civilization, which found exuberant expression in the arts, flourished there. Its importance as a major center of Buddhism is still reflected in the many great temples around the city that have remained outstanding landmarks to this day. All this has provided the inspiration for the Chi Lin Nunnery development.

We are extremely fortunate that Professor Puay Peng Ho of the Architecture Department of the Chinese University of Hong Kong has agreed to give a lecture, illustrated with slides, about the Chi Lin’s cultural and architectural aspects, as well as lead our visit to the nunnery itself.

On the day after his lecture, Professor Ho will lead our group on a visit to the Chi Lin Nunnery in Diamond Hill. This enormous complex of structures and garden courtyards was constructed to draw recognition to the ancient art of Chinese wooden building styles and techniques. Using traditional methods and natural materials, such as clay and stone as well as wood, the designers aimed to create an atmosphere of unity between nature and humans.

Time: The bus will depart promptly at 1:30pm. We expect to return at about 5:30pm.

Cost: Members: HKD100.00; Non-members: HKD150.00, includes a donation to the Nunnery.

Booking: A booking form is at the end of this newsletter. Please return it to May Holdsworth,

Dr. Patrick Hase has arranged a tour of Central Vietnam, to take the opportunity of the two public holidays in early October. The tour will include one night in Saigon, and will visit Hue and Danang. From Danang the superb restored eighteenth century town of Hai An, plus the famous Cham religious centre at My Son, just outside Danang will be visited. In Danang, which was the capital of Vietnam before the coming of the French, the tour will include visits to the Imperial Palace (with its spectacular Noonday Gate), and the Citadel, three Imperial Tombs (the superb Minh Man Tomb, the highly idiosyncratic Khai Dinh Tomb, and the Tu Duc Tomb), the Thien Mu Pagoda (the ruling Buddhist Monastery for Central Vietnam), which will be reached by a trip up the Perfume River. One day will be given to driving from Hue to Danang over the superb Hai Van Pass, with visits en route to a local market and a village. The Cham Museum at Danang and the Imperial Relics Museum at Hue will also be visited. The tour will include breakfast and lunch each day, with the evening meals to be arranged by participants themselves, except for an “Imperial Banquet” on one evening and dinner on the first night in Saigon. Travel will be by Vietnam Airlines, departing 1510 on Saturday 30^th September, (no need to take the morning off work), and returning to Hong Kong 1345 on Friday, 6^th October. As time is limited, please send the full amount of the tour cost, along with the booking form to Patrick as soon as possible, and by 15^th September at the latest.

30/9 VN763 at 1510/1640 to Saigon/ Meet and Transfer to Renaissance River Hotel/ Dinner at Vietnam House Restaurant.

01/10 Breakfast/VN254 to Hue at 1210/1330/Proceed to a local restaurant for a snack of Vietnamese rice noodles/Check-in Morin Hotel/Visit Imperial Citadel, Museum of Royal Relics & Tu Duc Tomb. An Imperial Dinner will be provided in the hotel restaurant.

02/10 Breakfast/A sampan ride on the Perfume River to, visit Thien Mu Pagoda, Minh Man Tomb, Khai Dinh Tomb and Ho Chi Minh Museum. Lunch at Club Garden Restaurant/ A brief cyclo ride around Hue/Return to Morin Hotel.

03/10 Breakfast/Drive to Danang via Hai Van Pass with en route photo stop at Lang Co Fishing Hamlet. Proceed to Danang and check into the Green Bamboo Hotel/Lunch at Kim Do Restaurant/Tour Cham Museum and Marble Mountain.

04/10 Breakfast/Day trip to Hoi An Ruins, the Museum of Hoi An, Hoi An Market, a Fukienese temple, Japanese graves and Japanese bridge/Lunch at Tam Tam Bar/ Return to Danang.

05/10 Breakfast/Day trip to My Son, visit ritual site of the Champa People/Boxed lunch en route/Return to Danang.

06/10 Breakfast/Transfer to airport for VN310 at 0840/0950 to Hanoi, connecting flight VN790 at 1050/1345 direct to Hong Kong.

Booking: A booking form is included at the end of this newsletter. Return it to Dr. Hase, 82A

Tong Sheung Village, Lam Tsuen, Tai Po, New Territories, by 15 September at latest

Venue: Extension Activities Room, 8^th Floor, City Hall High Block, Edinburgh Place, Central

Since the arrival of Britons in China to conduct trade, build railways, carry out missionary and welfare work and enter the service of the Chinese Government and councils of the Treaty Ports, medals were awarded for gallantry, life saving, and long service. The awards to Shanghai Volunteers, Hong Kong Policemen, Yangtse River Pilots, Chinese Customs Officers and to those serving in various other capacities, provide a fascinating historical and artistic record of expatriate life in, and service to, China.

David Mahoney has been collecting medals for over 50 years since, as a schoolboy, he inherited his grandfather's WW1 medals. David first came to HK in 1964 with the Crown Lands Survey Office, and joined Swire Properties in 1973, looking after Taikoo Shing and their other properties in Quarry Bay. He retired in 1993. Now, in addition to attending sales and conducting research around the UK, David serves on the committees of the British Association of Cemeteries in South Asia, the Orders and Medals Research Society, Hong Kong Society, and has recently joined the UK Friends of the HK RAS.

In case you missed the announcement in your newspaper on July 1, we were all delighted to learn the Dr. Elizabeth Sinn was awarded the Bronze Bauhinia Star by the SAR Government. This was cited as being ‘…for (her) valuable contribution to the work of the Antiquities Advisory Board’. We all know, of course, that she has done a great deal of related work both as Council member and Vice President of our Branch and as Deputy Director of the Centre of Asian Studies at the University of Hong Kong. Congratulations, Elizabeth!

Mark your calendars for 9 December, when we plan, in conjunction with the Hong Kong Museum of History, to present an all-day seminar, “Hong Kong: 40 Years of the Growing City”, to celebrate our Hong Kong Branch’s 40^th Anniversary. Speakers will examine the phenomenal growth and change, both physical and cultural, that have taken place in Hong Kong over the past forty years. Various archival films, dating from past decades will be shown. The seminar will be held at the Hong Kong Museum of History. Sign-up sheets and further details will be included in the next newsletter.

Mr. Kenneth Evans has written from England seeking information about his grandfather and great-grandfather . The former, Thomas Charles Lindsay Hayllar was born in Hampstead in 1861 and later served in the Chinese Maritime Customs in various postings in China. He took sick leave in 1891 and was removed from the service the following year, after which there is no trace of him. Even less is known about Thomas Child Hayllar QC who was Solicitor General in Hong Kong around 1878, although it is known that he had a dispute with the then Governor, Pope Hennessy. If any member has more information regarding these two gentlemen, would they please contact Dr. Dan Waters on 2858 1858.

Hon. Editor of Journals, Peter Halliday, is in the last stages of compiling and editing the next issue of our Journal, No. 38. This will be an especially thick issue, over 400 pages, as commemoration of our Branch’s 40^th Anniversary. It is expected the Journal will be ready to send to fully paid-up members late this autumn.

Looking ahead to issue No. 39, Peter foresees we might be in need of material. Please think of submitting a piece. If you have questions, contact Peter Halliday T2860 2228, acp-is@police.gov.hk.

The position of RASHKB Assistant Secretary is open. Job responsibilities include keeping track of the membership, compiling the newsletter, mailing journals and other materials to members, checking the P.O. Box in Central, and a myriad of other things! The job is interesting and fun. Candidates should be personable, proficient with the computer, be able to work from home, have three days per week to spare, plenty of room to store publications (one big closet with shelves), and be available to start sometime this autumn. Please call Dr. Dan Waters T2858 1858 or Sarah Parnell 2813 7500 if you are interested.

In an effort to defray newsletter costs, we are accepting ads that would be of interest to RAS members. Would you like to advertise a business or a service you can provide, or do you know someone who might be interested? Our rates are very reasonable: Full PageHK$1150.00; 2/3 Page HK$850.00; 1/2 Page HK$725.00, 1/3 Page HK$450.00. If you have a short ad and would like to pay according to the number of words in the ad, you may do so at the following rates: First 10 words: $70.00; each additional word: $2.50.

The Architectural Conservation Programme is an intensive part-time postgraduate programme offered by the Department of Architecture of the University of Hong Kong. The programme focuses on the conservation of Chinese and Western architecture within the urban context of Hong Kong, Macau, and Mainland China, and it is designed to meet the needs of practising professionals.

The objective of the Architectural Conservation Programme is to provide graduates with expert knowledge and experience in the planning and execution of conservation projects. The programme will enable graduates to become more effective in carrying out conservation projects in Southeast Asia and China, where there is an increasing recognition of the cultural and economic benefit of heritage conservation.

For more information about the programme or enrolment procedure, please contact Ms Miriam Yuen at: T 2589 2133, F 2559 6484, E-mail myyyuen@hkucc.hku.hk/. The application form can be downloaded from the Department’s website: http://arch.hku.hk/.

An International Conference is being organised by the Society for Nautical Research, to be held at the Merseyside Maritime Museum, 18-22 September 2002. The conference seeks to approach its subject from as many different backgrounds and viewpoints as possible. Papers are invited on the subject of the ships themselves, of their owners, their trade and the merchant houses involved, as well as on Chinese trade and shipping before and after the arrival of Europeans, British exploration, mapping and early contacts, the East India Company and the Royal Navy’s involvement, military interventions, incursions by other European nations, and the maritime dimension of Chinese policy. In addition, some themes of ‘people history’ will be addressed, including Chinese seafarers and the cultural interactions brought about by the emergence of British communities in China and Chinese communities in Britain. Interaction in the fine and decorative arts will also be considered, as well as reminiscences of retired people formerly involved in the trade.

For complete information regarding the conference and information on submission of proposals, please contact Captain Roger H. Parry, 108 The Colonnades, Albert Dock, Liverpool L3 4AB, United Kingdom, T 44 151 709 9260, F 44 151 708 5928, E-mail rogerhparry@cs.com.

Written by Prof. Ho Puay Peng, who will speak to us on 22 September and lead our visit to the Chi Lin Nunnery, this lavishly illustrated book explores the vernacular architecture of southern China. Prof. Ho explains the siting and organisation of traditional Chinese settlements, and goes on to study the forms of buildings, including houses, temples, ancestral shrines, and study halls. Construction methods, decoration, and spatial layout of the structures are explored, with their development related to the particular social organisations in various villages in South China. The activities of the people, their lifestyles, their need for security and the area’s climate are shown to be important factors in the formation of the architecture. Concise, articulately written and filled with photos, this 88-page book aims to foster in the reader an appreciation of common village architecture in Southern China. The book, published in 1995 by the Department of Architecture of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, costs HKD100.00, and it is available in Hong Kong bookshops.

Local Visit Saturday 23 September

Chi Lin Nunnery

Please reserve for me…………places for Members @ HKD100.00 each and…………places for Non-members @ HKD150.00 each (including Non-member spouses).

I enclose my cheque for HK$………………payable to Royal Asiatic Society, Hong Kong Branch.

Name………………………………………………..

Daytime Telephone…………………..Fax………………….E-Mail……………………………

Mail to: Mrs. May Holdsworth, 27/F, 46 Baguio Villas, 550 Victoria Road, Hong Kong Before 18 September, please.

I understand that the Royal Asiatic Society, Hong Kong Branch and its officials take no responsibility or liability for any accident, injury or loss that may occur during this activity.

Signed………………………….Date……………….

Overseas Visit Friday 29Sept.-Friday 6 Oct.

Central Vietnam

Please reserve………places for members @ HKD7,000 and ………places for Non-members @HKD7,500.

(including Non-member spouses).

…………….I do not wish to share a room so include HKD1,500 supplement.

I enclose my cheque for HKD………………………payable to Royal Asiatic Society, Hong Kong Branch.

Name……………… Daytime Tel……………………Fax…………………E-mail

Deadline for booking and full payment: Friday 15 September 2000.

Mail to: Dr. Patrick Hase, 82A Tong Sheung Village, Lam Tseun, Tao Po, New Territories, H.K., T2658 6529.

I understand that the Royal Asiatic Society, Hong Kong Branch and its officials take no responsibility or liability for any accident, injury or loss that may occur during this activity.

Signed…………………………Date……………………

Order Form

In the Heart of the Metropolis: Yaumatei and Its People and Beyond the Metropolis: Villages in Hong Kong

I am a member of the Royal Asiatic Society, Hong Kong Branch.

I would like to order………copies of In the Heart of the Metropolis: Yaumatei and Its People

at the special members’ price of HKD275.00 per copy plus HKD40.00 postage per volume.

I would like to order………copies of Beyond the Metropolis: Villages in Hong Kong at HKD 320.00 plus HKD40.00 postage per volume.

I would like to order……….two-volume sets at HKD575.00 plus HKD70.00 postage.

I attach my cheque for HKD…………in full settlement, payable to Royal Asiatic Society, Hong Kong Branch.

Name……………………………………………Address………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Daytime Tel………………………Fax….……………………E-Mail…………………………

Please return this form, along with your payment, to RASHKB, GPO BOX 3864, Hong Kong.

Cheques should be made payable to Royal Asiatic Society, Hong Kong Branch.