Joining the American Legation at the climax of the Second Opium War, Mr Heard experienced the first days of intercourse between the United States and the ‘Far East’.  He began writing eye-witness accounts of the events that marked the end of the Opium War, including the June 1859 Battle of Peiho and the Allies’ preparations for the Third Battle of the Taku Forts in August 1860.  At least one of his lively and vivid letters home was borrowed to be copied by the American Minister and sent to the US President as an official report.

With short readings by Dr Verner Bickley, Dr Bickley recounts the compelling journeys of Mr Heard, sharing his experiences of the hostile diplomatic events and commercial intelligence that concluded the Opium Wars. 

Dr Gillian Bickley arrived in Hong Kong in 1970 from the UK to a position in the English Department at the University of Hong Kong and recently retired from Hong Kong Baptist University as Associate Professor.  She has conducted extensive research on topics with respect to 19th-century Hong Kong, publishing books, book chapters and journal articles.  

Dr Verner Bickley, MBE, has held senior posts around the world, including with the Singapore Government, the British Council in Burma, Indonesia and Japan, as Chairman of the Directors of the East-West Centre, Honolulu and most recently as Founding Director of the Institute of Language in Education (Hong Kong).  He has had many acting, broadcasting and voice-over roles.  The Drs Bickley are well-known in Hong Kong and elsewhere for their joint presentations on topics which they have often jointly researched.

Members of the RGS, their guests and others are most welcome to attend this event, which is HK$150 for RGS Members and HK$200 for guests and others, including a complimentary glasses of white or red wine.  This event is free of charge for Student Members.

 The Royal Geographical Society - Hong Kong wishes to express its thanks to Hill Dickinson as the Venue Sponsor of this talk.