First Book of Hong Kong Chronicles Launched

Overview & Chronology: A Record of 7,000 Years of Social Transformation

Hong Kong Chronicles Institute (HKCI), a member of Our Hong Kong Foundation (OHKF), has marked the official debut of Hong Kong’s first-ever series of local chronicles with the release of the first book titled Overview & Chronology in a virtual press conference and a “Book-on-Shelf” ceremony on December 28, 2020.

HKCI Executive Committee Chairman Mr Bernard Chan, OHKF President and HKCI Secretary General Mrs Eva Cheng, HKCI Academic Review Committee Chief Convenor Professor Chack-fan Lee and HKCI President Mr Sam Lam presented details on the Institute’s mission, vision and editorial operation during the press conference.

In commemoration of the historic moment, HKCI Chairman Mr Tung Chee-hwa, HKSAR Chief Executive Mrs Carrie Lam, and President of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and Director of China’s Steering Group for Local Chronicles Mr Xie Fuzhan shared their congratulatory messages in a series of pre-recorded videos at the press event.

The book went on sale in bookstores of the Sino United Publishing group starting January 4, 2021; an electronic edition is available to the public free of charge on HKCI's website.

7,000 Years of History in Eight Years

Overview & Chronology is the first title of a book series by Hong Kong Chronicles Institute. It presents a detailed overview of Hong Kong’s local history and more than 6,500 major historical events taking place between ancient times and 2017.

The book series consists of 66 volumes to be released in 42 books with 25 million words and completed in phases by 2027. It covers a historical timeline of 7,000 years – from the New Stone Age 5,000 B.C. to the inauguration of the fifth term of the HKSAR government on July 1, 2017. It includes 10 major categories, including nature, economy, culture, society, politics and people, etc.

Preservation of History

Local chronicles have a history of more than 2,000 years on their own. They are compiled under the guiding principle of fact-based description without interpretation. The launch of Hong Kong Chronicles signifies a return to a Chinese cultural tradition after a 200-year gap. The history of Hong Kong was last documented in the 1819 edition of Xin’an County Chronicles.

The book series is of profound historical significance and cultural value as an accurate, objective, systematic and comprehensive record of 7,000 years of Hong Kong's transformation. These are stories of people showing their perseverance and unity and of a common and inseparable bond between Hong Kong and the Mainland. The project also reflects a fine academic tradition of Hong Kong scholars and active community participation.

Hong Kong Chronicles is a collaborative effort with community support and made possible by a shared dream. The project comes under the support of different sectors, including the HKSAR government for access to historical documents, Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust for financial support, and HKCI's Academic Review Committee for editorial guidance.

Editorial Independence & Academic-Led

Under “One Country, Two Systems,” an editorial process was determined based on the protocols of local chronicles in the Mainland, past project experience of various locales and Hong Kong’s own unique characteristics, as to come up with the best possible way of making the book series.

Hong Kong Chronicles comes under the guiding principle of fact-based description without interpretation. To ensure content quality and consensus, reputed organizations and professionals are widely consulted. Prior to publication, all content must meet stringent requirements through a seven-step vetting process: Research, Compose, Edit, Streamline, Review, Verify and Affirm, before they are further reviewed by duty editors, approved by historians, and endorsed by HKCI’s Academic Review Committee and Council members.

Editorial independence, as endorsed by the HKSAR government, is at the core of the Institute as any amendment must be made in accordance with the editorial requirements and procedures mentioned above without exception to demand by any group or individual.

To complement the release of Overview & Chronology, a series of events, including seminars and exhibitions, along with feature stories on the website and other social media platforms, will be organized as an educational tool to promote the history of Hong Kong.

In the News:

“The project…traces the development of Hong Kong covering 7,000 years.

In addition to history, the chronicles will detail aspects of society such as politics, economy, people, culture and geography, among others. The plan is to complete the full set by 2027, in time to mark the 30th anniversary of Hong Kong’s handover.

In China, the compilation of local chronicles has a history for more than 2,000 years and can be traced back to the Qin dynasty. The last chronicles to include Hong Kong were completed in 1819, when it was still part of Xinan county during the Qing dynasty.”

South China Morning Post, 29 Dec 2020

“…to ensure the quality of the content, scholars will use a range of methods to record history, including research, writing, editing and streamlining. The first book – Hong Kong Chronicles: Overview & Chronology – will be on sale in bookstores of the Sino United Publishing group from January 4. Electronic editions will be published online.”

The Standard, 29 Dec 2020