1962

The Collection comprises over 16,300 volumes of books in English and Chinese with wide and varied subject coverage, many of which are now virtually unobtainable. They include thread-sewn books on Chinese classics and books in English on Chinese history and literature.

Sir Robert Kotewall was a prominent figure in the Hong Kong community in the first half of the twentieth century. His untiring efforts in promoting education and community affairs are well remembered. He was a well-read man and had built up a valuable collection of Chinese and English books. The book collection of Sir Robert Kotewall was bequeathed to the Hong Kong Government in 1957 and was housed in the City Hall Public Library for public use in 1962. A special fund was established by members of the Kotewall family to maintain and further strengthen the collection. The collection was subsequently transferred to the Hong Kong Central Reference Library for public use in 2001.

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