I’m going to write about money, so please keep you finger off the ‘delete’ icon (for a few more paragraphs at least!)

First though, apologies for ATARN having been down for a few days recently. Our excellent ISP (no blame on them) billed me for the site rental on a credit card for which the expiry date had passed. The resulting bouncing payment set their automated suspension mechanism into action. All has been sorted out now. Unfortunately, the ‘Discussion Forum’ still resolutely refuses to work, and that is likely to remain the case as long as it is implemented MS FrontPage 2000. Is there any CGI programming wizard among our members who would set up a really good discussion web for ATARN? (I have retained all the original items in the discussion forum and I shall archive them on-line.)

This month, I have registered ATARN as a small business in Hong Kong. Our nature of business is "Internet Content Provider, Conference Organizer, Trading." The important point here that that with a business registered in Hong Kong, I can open (and indeed I have opened) a bank account. I had toyed with the idea of a society; but in Hong Kong law, societies have to have a quorum of officers based in Hong Kong. As a happy anarchy, ATARN does not even have a quorum of officers anywhere, let along have them rooted to Hong Kong.

I have no intention of using ATARN to run a business for my own profit. Indeed, as I am a Hong Kong civil servant, it would not be legal for me to do so. However, I have numerous out-of-pocket expenses. For example our domain name, 'www.atarn.org', was renewed on 11 August at a cost of US$35.  (Interesting that some enterprising person in the Channel Islands has registered 'www.atarn.com.' Hope he makes some money out of it...) Hosting fees since the start of 2000 have amounted to US$349.70, and I have agreed to commission a writer in Bhutan, Sonam Kheng, to write an article in English about Bhutanese national archery at a cost of US$80.

I propose that those who feel that they can afford to do so should make a small contribution to these costs; but I shall not propose a specific ‘membership fee’. Access to the contents of http://www.atarn.org will remain free of charge (although unless specifically stated, the material is copyright protected.)

As a guideline only, you might want to consider an annual sum of US$25. I would issue an official receipt for any sums offered. Sums more/less than that will be welcome. I shall publish full sets of accounts.

ATARN’s bank account details are:

OK, that was the bad news. Good news? Well, Bede Dwyer has contributed insightful comments on the reconstruction of the Niya bows. Last month, I added an article with copious illustrations about Chinese quivers and bow holsters.

A new Museum of Maritime Defence opened in Hong Kong this month. I have donated two antique Chinese bows to go with a set of original Qing Dynasty palace guard uniform donated to the Museum by a Museum in Beijing. I have been trying to persuade the museum to devote an exhibition room totally to Asian archery.  Their initial response is fairly positive. Although we have not got any formal agreement, I am investigating the possibility of 50 square metres of dedicated floor space (with high walls.)

I hope to put my own collection there on permanent loan. If any members had Asian archery equipment they would like to permanently loan to a museum in Hong Kong, please let me know. The idea is that stuff will be displayed: not put away in basements.

Decoration at the grip of a Qing Dynasty bow, possibly from Peking

Decoration adjacent to the siyah of a Qing Dynasty bow, possibly from Peking.

The next letter will follow after the International Horse Archery Festival (7-10 September, Fort Dodge Iowa, USA). I hope to have exciting pictures and videos for Members next month!