British Embassy
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11 Guang Hua Lu Jian Guo Men Wai Peking People's Republic of China
Telex 22191 Cable Prodrome Peking
19/10
C T Wood Esq
HKD FCO
woga
O
Telephone 521961/2/3/4/5
нко 444
RECEIVEO REGISTRY 250CT 1988
Your reference
Our reference
Mr Footman t
N
49
19/10
CE 19/10
May/Siche Please apy MRD PA
maran (laby
020/393/24
Date
17 October 1988
이
10
IN
Dear Chris,
ARCHIVES: REFORM OF CHINESE RECORD-KEEPING TECHNIQUES
1. By way of background, you might be interested in a piece which appeared in the Xinhua English language news bulletin of 15 October entitled "China Standardises Management of Archives". Chinese efforts to modernise and standardise their record-keeping might help to explain the relatively easy ride we have had so far over the question of Hong Kong's archives.
2.
cc:
The text of the piece is as follows:
"The introduction of computers and modern maintenance tech- niques is speeding up China's work of keeping records, today's "Guangming Daily" reported.
For many years, backward manual management of archives has endangered an enormous number of valuable records, the paper said.
In the country's 3,184 file offices, one third of the 130 million files are mildewed or faded.
Modern techniques can now improve the quality of file paper, and control humidity and temperature, the paper reported. The introduction of micro-film and computers in provincial archive bureaus has helped promote the standardisation of archive management.
Four authorised standards will soon be issued to guide the specialised management of archives, the paper added".
Jours ever,
Journ
lariten
C O Pigott
First Secretary (Chancery)
RC Wilson Esq, GDB, Govt Secretariat, Hong Kong
D G Martin Esq, UKRep JLG, Hong Kong
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