The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

A records series is a group of documents or volumes that has been brought together for a specific function or activity. These records are usually created by the same organization or individuals, arranged according to the same classification system or in the same physical form.

The Hong Kong Record Series (HKRS) comprises selected government records created or received by Government agencies in the course of their business.

After government records are transferred to the Public Records Office (PRO), they will be examined and distinguished into records series according to their creator, functions and activities or physical form. Each series is then allocated a distinctive Hong Kong Record Series Number (HKRS No.) and will be described according to the General International Standard Archival Description [(ISAD(G)) issued by the International Council on Archives.

The PRO has around 1,200 HKRS in varying formats including files, bound volumes, maps and plans, photographs, films, videotapes and disks. They were transferred by over 100 government bureaux, departments, offices or agencies, and add up to about 12,000 linear metres. The majority of these important primary sources were created after WWII, however some of them date back to the nineteenth century. These records are diverse in scope and content and cover matters such as finance and commerce, land development, buildings, the environment, and legal and social issues.

Hong Kong Manuscript Series

The Hong Kong Manuscript Series (HKMS) comprises private records and personal papers donated to the PRO by private organizations and individuals.

After private records are transferred to the Public Records Office (PRO), they will be examined and distinguished into records series according to their creator, functions and activities or physical form. Each series is then allocated a distinctive Hong Kong Manuscript Number (HKMS No.) and will be described according to the General International Standard Archival Description [(ISAD(G)] issued by the International Council on Archives.