Today, we live in a politically and ethically complex world that is both integrated yet interdependent, where decisions taken in one part of the world can, and do, affect developments in another. Within this context, The Royal Commonwealth Society in Hong Kong is as important today as ever. It is an organisation that interfaces two enormous but widely different communities. We are an international family of 53 member countries spread across five continents. Plus, we are now part of China with the world's largest population of about 1.3 billion. The Royal Commonwealth Society here in Hong Kong is an important bridge between these two great communities and will do its best to enhance its interdependence.