Letters | Now more than ever, the 180 years of Hong Kong government records need protection

Eight years after the establishment of a subcommittee on the matter and more than two years after a public consultation, Hong Kong is yet to have an archives law

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Carrie Lam, Hong Kong’s chief executive, poses with copies of her 2020 policy address on November 25. Photo: Bloomberg

Published: 6:00am, 26 Jul 2021Updated: 6:00am, 26 Jul 2021

The Post is to be congratulated on its policy initiative and the allocation of significant resources to establish the ARTEFACT project based on its extensive newspaper archives (“SCMP generates digital assets from its rich archives”, July 20), an enterprise that will undoubtedly bring both pleasure and profit to the community of Hong Kong.

This initiative shows the value in preserving records uniquely created in the course of normal business activity, in this case that of 118 years of journalism in Hong Kong, China and East Asia.

Sadly, the people of Hong Kong are not so fortunate where 180 years of Hong Kong government archives are concerned. Eight years after the establishment of a Law Reform Commission subcommittee to consider the enactment of archives legislation and more than two years after a public consultation on the issue, the final report of the subcommittee has still to be published.

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One might add that this is despite Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor having included archives legislation in her election manifesto in 2017 and in subsequent policy addresses and agendas.

I submit that, now more than ever, Hong Kong government records need the protection and support of robust archives legislation ensuring not only their professional management and preservation but also a right of public access.

Don Brech, former director, Government Records Service