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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1974
WHERE THE PAST IS KEPT ALIVE
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MANY PEOPLE MAY REGARD THE PUBLIC RECORDS OFFICE, WHICH PROVIDES A CENTRALISED SERVICE IN THE SELECTION AND PRESERVATION OF GOVERNMENT ARCHIVES OR PERMANENTLY VALUABLE PUBLIC RECORDS, AS MERELY A PAPER MUSEUM OR CEMETERY.
BUT TO MR. IAN DIAMOND, THE ARCHIVIST IN CHARGE, IT IS AN ACTIVE PART OF THE GOVERNMENT MACHINERY IN FACT, THE GOVERNMENT'S MEMORY'.
ALL RELEVANT DOCUMENTS AND FILES FROM GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS ARE FORWARDED TO THE PUBLIC RECORDS OFFICE FOR SORTING AND ASSESSMENT. DOCUMENTS ARE SELECTED FOR PRESERVATION ON THE BASIS OF THEIR VALUE IN RELATION TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL AND LEGAL BASIS OF THE GOVERNMENT THE ORIGIN, DEVELOPMENT, POLICIES AND ACTIVITIES OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS PROPERTY RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES OF PRIVATE CITIZENS OR ORGANISATIONS AND INSIGHT INTO THE POLITICAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMICAL AFFAIRS OF A COUNTRY.
THE ARCHIVES ARE KEPT FOR OFFICIAL REFERENCE AND, UNDER APPROVED CONDITIONS, FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION AND PRIVATE RESEARCH,
TEACHING STAFF AND STUDENTS OF LOCAL AND OVERSEAS UNIVERSITIES OFTEN MAKE USE OF THE AVAILABLE RECORDS, AND RECORDS FROM GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS ARE FREQUENTLY RECALLED FOR REFERENCE.
+SO YOU SEE THE OFFICE IS FAR FROM 'DEAD'+ SAID MR. DIAMOND.
THE PUBLIC RECORDS OFFICE RECENTLY MOVED INTO NEW AND BETTER- EQUIPPED PREMISES ON THE GROUND AND MEZZANINE FLOORS OF THE MURRAY ROAD MULTI-STOREY CAR PARK BUILDING.
+WE NOW HAVE MORE SPACE FOR STORING PUBLIC RECORDS AND THE PROVISION OF CERTAIN AUXILIARY SERVICES WHICH WERE LACKING IN THE OLD PREMISES ON GARDEN ROAD,+ MR. DIAMOND SAID.
AMONG THE ITEMS STORED IN THE OFFICE IS THE COLONY SEAL WHICH WAS USED IN THE PRE-WAR PERIOD. THERE IS ALSO A COLLECTION OF RECORDS OF THE JAPANESE ADMINISTRATION DURING THE OCCUPATION, INCLUDING PAPERS ON LAND MATTERS, PROPERTY RATING, AND OFFICIAL RECORDS OF THE STANLEY PRISON CAMP AND HOSPITAL.
EARLY RECORDS ON LANDS AND DEEDS OF THE REGISTRAR GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT FROM THE 1860'S UP TO THE LAST YEAR AND RECORDS OF THE AUDIT DEPARTMENT DATING FROM 1844 TO 1860 ARE ALSO KEPT IN THE OFFICE.
MR. DIAMOND SAID A MAP COLLECTION HAS ALSO BEEN STARTED IN THE NEW OFFICE, INCLUDING A MAP OF HONG KONG PREPARED IN THE LATE 19TH CENTURY DEPICTING THE DISTRICT BOUNDARIES OF HONG KONG AND THE NEW TERRITORIES.
THE OLDEST