Speech by Professor Wong Siu Lun

Speech of Professor Mr. Wong Siu Lun

Centre of Asian Studies

The University of Hong Kong

at

EASTICA Workshop on Archives Descriptive Standards

Hong Kong : 18 February 1997

　

Mr. Hoare, Mr. Chu, Mr. Wang, Mr. Inahashi, Mrs. Guo, Dr. Stibbe,

Friends and Colleagues,

The Centre of Asian Studies is pleased to co-host this workshop on Archives Descriptive Standards with EASTICA, the Public Records Office, Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Museum of History. This workshop is of particular significance at this point in time in Hong Kong. As we all know, Hong Kong is on the eve of transition, entering a new chapter of history. The preservation of records and the standards of archives kept in Hong Kong is very important at this time, and we are being led in this direction by the Public Records Office. The Public Records Office is relocating to new premises, which all of you will have an opportunity to visit during your stay. These new premises will ensure the preservation of Hong Kong archives set by the standards that all of you will determine at your meetings over the next few days.

At the Centre of Asian Studies, we rely on archivists and archival collections in the research that we undertake - and in our small way contribute to the collection of archives in Hong Kong. Currently the Centre has three on-going projects relating to archival studies :

	1. The CAS is undertaking research commissioned by the Hong Kong Stock Exchanged, which involves studying archives of stock transactions in Hong Kong, documenting materials and recording oral histories. In this process, the research itself will build up archives which will be part of a larger one we intend to build for Hong Kong. What we aim to do is to promote the collection of business archives as part of Hong Kong archives and archives of Asia in general.

	2. In collaboration with the Institute of Oriental Culture of Tokyo University, the two centres are undertaking research on, “Drastic changes in China and their impact on Asian countries”. This project, which has been funded by the Japan Foundation for the last two years, aims to promote Asian regional networks through a series of workshops, bringing together researchers with librarians and archivists. It is important that all of us work together in this mission to promote the collection and preservation of our historical records.

	3. The third project is planned for December 1997, which is to be a conference on Hong Kong History, co-organised with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing. This conference will cover not only the political history of Hong Kong, but all other aspects which have not received sufficient attention in the past, such as popular culture, business history, development of legal institutions, etc. For the success of this conference, we will rely on expert advice from archivists and hope for their participation in the conference.

Let me take this opportunity to wish you all a fruitful workshop and hope that in the space of this busy week, you can find time to visit the Centre of Asian Studies at the Univerisity of Hong Kong.

Thank you.