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The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Carrie Lam, visited the Government Records Service (GRS) this afternoon (June 5) to better understand the office's work in implementing government records management programmes and promoting the understanding of local documentary heritage.
Mrs Lam started her visit by meeting with the GRS Director, Mr Stanley To, and receiving a briefing on the work and services of the office. She then proceeded to tour the public service areas, archive repositories, as well as records conservation and preservation areas of the GRS.
During the visit, Mrs Lam chatted with front-line staff of the office and highly commended their contribution towards government records management and provision of research and reference services. She also emphasised to them the Government's commitment to identifying government records with archival value for preservation and public access, and the need to improve on the current records management and arrangements where appropriate.
The Government fully recognises the importance of proper records management. Records are valuable resources of the Government to support evidence-based decision-making and meet operational and regulatory requirements, and are essential for an open and accountable government.
As such, the Government has been adhering to the principles of records management commonly adopted in other jurisdictions. These principles include promulgation of recordkeeping standards; designation of obligations and responsibilities of government bodies relating to keeping, maintaining and protecting public records; destruction of records to be subject to prior authorisation of archival authority; setting out responsibility for safe custody and conservation of archival materials; and provision of public access to public records.
Ends/Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Issued at HKT 18:42
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