TNAG-2329-FCO40-3373-Hong-Kong-contacts-with-academics-and-writers-1991 — Page 227

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HK: Contacts with Academics/

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Ms Major PM 11

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Date: 2 January 1991

cc (all with encl):

Mr McLaren (DUS) Mr Burns (AUS) Mr Davies, FED

Mr Murray, PUSD

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Mr Fifoot } Legal Advisers Ms Barrett}

OXFORD CENTRE FOR MODERN CHINESE STUDIES: PROJECT ON HONG KONG

1.

I enclose a copy of a report sent to me by the Centre for Modern Chinese Studies at Oxford University. This covers the Centre's activities since 1987.

2. As I mentioned to you on the telephone, the report contains (on pages 9-12) a chapter on the Centre's Hong Kong Project.

As you will see, the written archives collected by the Project include the papers of two former Governors (Sir Cecil Clementi, 1925-30, and Sir Robert Black, 1958-64) and oral history tapes recording interviews with numerous people who have held senior posts in Hong Kong (eg Sir D Akers-Jones, Sir J Cater, Sir S Y Chung, Mr L M Davies, Sir P Haddon-Cave, Lord Kadoorie, Lord MacLehose, Sir D Roberts, Mr M Thomas and Sir D Trench).

3. According to the report, the interview tapes are checked for accuracy by the Director of the Project, Dr Steve Tsang, referred back to the interviewee if necessary, and then used to produce transcripts to be held at the Rhodes House Library "subject to restrictions appropriate to the nature of the material, in accordance with legal requirements". The report adds that a copy of the transcript is sent to the contributor for approval.

4. I had heard of this project before but was not aware of its full scope as described above. The Centre is also participating in a project on the history and other aspects of Hong Kong (entitled "Hong Kong: Network and Flows Project") which has been initiated by the Pacific Rim Research Institute of the University of California with Hong Kong University. This is mentioned on page 13 of the report.

5. If you require further information on the project, I think the best approach might be through Sir Richard Evans, who is on the Management Committee of the Centre (although there is no indication that he has been personally involved in the project).

Marfallen

KC Walker

Far Eastern Section, RAD

OAB2/125

210 6220

2 January 1991

HKC282/1

RECEIVED INI MEMURRA

09 JAN 1991