First volume of ‘Chronicles of Hong Kong’ launched as part of HK$780 million, eight-year project
- Organisers deny scheme – which aims to publish a total of 30 million words over eight years – is a political mission by the central government
- The project aims to complete 66 volumes by 2027, telling the stories of Hong Kong as part of China from ancient times to 2017
The first volume of a perceived semi-official version of Hong Kong’s history has been launched with an aim to reconnect people with their Chinese roots under a massive project led by the think tank of the city’s first post-handover leader, Tung Chee-hwa.
Unveiling the first book of the “Chronicles of Hong Kong” series on Monday, the organisers denied the HK$780 million project – which aims to publish a total of 30 million words over eight years – was a political mission by the central government to push for patriotic education.
“This is definitely not something politically driven. This is something we in the community have been longing for over many years,” said Executive Council member Bernard Chan, chairman of the executive committee of the Hong Kong Chronicles Institute.
“Hong Kong, together with Macau, are the only places in the whole of China that do not collect our own chronicles.”
The project, by the think tank Our Hong Kong Foundation, aims to complete 66 volumes by 2027, telling the stories of Hong Kong as part of China from ancient times to up to 2017.
