These flags are the Union Jack and the Chinese flag, which were pinned above Joseph Needham's map of China near his desk in theSino-British Science Cooperation Office (SBSCO). On his arrival in China, under the auspices of the British Council, Joseph Needham established the Sino-British Science Cooperation Office (SBSCO). The SBSCO was responsible for assessing the needs of Chinese scientific, technological and medical institutions and researchers, and facilitating the supply of equipment and medicines, books and journals to China. Joseph Needham was Director of the SBSCO and Dorothy Needham was Associate Director.