Welcome to the website of the Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong (RASHK). The RASHK was founded in 1847 in Hong Kong as the China branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. The objects of the Society are to encourage an active interest in East Asia, and in Hong Kong in particular, through lectures and discussions, overseas visits, and by publishing an annual Journal. Anyone with an interest in the history, art, literature and culture of China and Asia, with special reference to Hong Kong, will enjoy membership of the RASHK which is generally regarded as the leading society for the study of Hong Kong and South China. Dating back over 150 years, our Society is today a very active body, organizing varied visits, talks, seminars and more.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
NEW PUBLICATIONS THIS QUARTER
RAS HK STUDIES SERIES
Villages and Market Towns in Hong Kong: Settlement and History - Patrick H. Hase
“Most histories of Hong Kong begin with the arrival of the British, and only incidentally mention the pre-colonial eras. In this book, Patrick Hase, one of the leaders in the field, provides an important addition to the history of Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta region, covering topics such as Chinese ethnicity, commerce, port-towns, and squatting. It is a truly excellent work that will interest historians, anthropologists, and social scientists.”
—James L. Watson
Fairbank Professor of Chinese Society and Anthropology Emeritus, Harvard University
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Outlaws of the Sea: Maritime Piracy in Modern China - Robert J. Antony
“How can the voices of pirates be retrieved? Robert Antony convincingly illuminates the shadowy landscape of the maritime world. A stalwart in pirate studies, his exemplary scholarship offers a rich and compelling narrative. This book is essential for anyone captivated by the underside of Chinese history and the lore of the sea.”
—Ronald C. Po, London School of Economics and Political Science
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Man in a Hurry: Murray MacLehose and Colonial Autonomy in Hong Kong - Ray Yep
“Ray Yep is one of the leading historians of Hong Kong. His latest book, Man in a Hurry, compellingly tells the story of how Hong Kong’s state and civil society modernized under its longest-serving colonial governor, Murray MacLehose. Drawing on extensive research into newly-available primary sources, Yep shows that MacLehose, a “reluctant reformer”, navigated a path between an increasingly assertive and expectant population and a newly intrusive British political class to help create a prosperous and well-managed territory and a city of global importance. Anyone interested in the making of contemporary Hong Kong needs to read this book.”
—Mark Hampton, author of Hong Kong and British Culture, 1945–97
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The November 2024 Newsletter is available here
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NEW! Index to Volumes 1 - 63 of The Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong may be accessed here
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UPCOMING EVENTS
The Society is a registered charitable institution and comprises a Council, chaired by the President, assisted by a Vice President and elected Officers and Council Members, the Activities Committee, Editorial Board and The Sir Lindsay and Lady Ride Memorial Trust Fund.
The Society is supported by a part-time administrator, on weekdays only. We therefore ask for your patience while waiting for a response to any queries you may have.