Hong Kong’s diligent civil servants and officials would gain from an archives law

As a former director of the Government Records Service, I think this highlights the need for the government to introduce legislation protecting archives for future generations.

That historians, journalists and other members of the public seeking to research aspects of Hong Kong’s history are unable to locate or access records created 30 or more years ago among their own government’s archives, and are obliged to seek material in the national archives of the UK, is not because the records of the Hong Kong government were removed to London prior to the handover, as many people assume.

On the contrary, to ensure continuity of effective administration, it was the policy of the British government that the colonial administration’s records remain in place.

The reason researchers have to seek information relating to Hong Kong in British government records is the lack of archives legislation. Such legislation would place a legal obligation upon Hong Kong government agencies and statutory bodies to create, maintain and preserve records that are of continuing value, and to provide a right of public access to them.

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Such legislation does more than just ensure that government archives are kept and made available. Equally importantly, it provides a statutory framework for the creation and continuing management of official records to ensure accountability and transparency in government.