MR. A. H. George, C.M.G., British Consul-General here was elected President of the Royal Asiatic Society (North China Branch) at the annual meeting of the Society yesterday He succeeds Mr, Arthur de C. Sowerby who has been president of the Society for the past five and half years. In accepting the presi dency of the Society, Mr. George briefly thanked those responsible for his election for the honour conferred upon him. Although Jacking in scientific and other qualifications, he said, he would do his best to further the interests of the Society.
In his report for the year 1940, the retiring President made a brief survey of the Society's marked progress since 1933, when it took up its quarters in ils new building, erected on the site of the old building which had served the Society since 1874, He pointed out that attendance of, the Society's Museum and Library, two of its major activities, had increased during this period in a most remarkable way. Visitors to the Museum had increased from a little over 12,000 in the 1933-4 season to over 65,000 during 190, while users of the Library's reading room during the same period had risen from 2,495 to 9679.
He also reported that the debt, under which the Society had been labouring since the completion of its now building in 1993, had, during, the past two years been reduced to halt what it was at the end of 1938 a result of a public appeal for funds to remove it. The satisfactory. working of the mutual cooperation agreement between the Society and the Interviational Institute of China entered into last year was noted.
Reports from other affeers of the Society were presented at the meeting, a3 well as the balance sheet and *stalement of accounts for 1940, which was approved by those present, This showed a very hopeful state of affairs for the present year.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.