Bulletin Autumn 1989

2. Chinese j ou r na l s The centre subscribes to more than 1,100 Chinese journals, including approximately 80 college and university journals, 100 literary, historical and philosophical journals, 160 social sciences (general) journals, 120 political and law journals, 200 economic journals, 60 education journals, 80 art journals, 200 literature and journalism journals, and 20 military journals. 3. Classified digest compiled by the Chinese People's University This categorized compilation of newspaper and journal articles is most useful to researchers. Articles from over 1,700 Chinese newspapers, magazines and academic journals are sorted into more than 100 categories. The centre has an entire collection beginning in 1978, covering materials in the social A t the opening ceremony are, f r o m left: D r. F.C. Chen, Professor Charles K. Kao, P rofessor R.T.T. Young, P rofessor E zra Vogel, and D r. H .C . Kuan. sciences (general), politics and economics, and a selected collection in history, geography, culture, education and the arts. 4. Engli sh j ou rna ls The centre subscribes to over 70 English lan­ guage journals in the field of Chinese studies, in­ cluding translations from original sources such asNew China News Agency bulletins, Survey o f Chi na Mai nland Press , Dail y Report by Foreign Broadcast I nf o rma t i on Broadcast and Summar y o f Wo r l d Broadcast , as well as academic journals in China studies. Most of the collection begins in the 1960s. 5. Chinese and Engli sh books The centre has about 16,000 Chinese books, mainly in social science subjects. In addition, there are 4,000 English titles, including most of the Western books on contemporary China published in the last 40 years. 6. Loca l yearbooks After moving to The Chinese University, the centre began to systematically collect provincial and local data, particularly referencematerials, to facilitate regional research. The centre has recently acquired a number of provincial yearbooks and about 100 volumes of local statistical data, including some very valuable material. In addition to the materials described above, the centre also holds an incomplete collection of original materials concerning the ‘Cultural Revolution', the Red Guard papers, Democracy Wall materials, and materials from the 1989 democratic movement. The centre has adopted a computer system to assist in library management. The online bibliographic search for Chinese materials already provides great convenience to library users. Online bibliographic search for English materials is however yet to be completed. The centre is open to scholars from every country, as well as staff and graduate students from tertiary institutions in Hong Kong. Any undergraduate student who wishes to use the centre must present a letter of recommendation from his or her superviser. Without exception, none of the centre's materials circulates. Scholars from outside The Chinese Univer­ sity must present identification when they visit the centre for the first time. Study carrels are available to foreign scholars, including those from Taiwan and themainland, aswell as local and Chinese University scholars who need to frequent the centre. The centre also assists foreign scholars in applying for visas for Hong Kong, looking for accommodation, hiring research assistants, and so on. Development Policy In a recent further development, the centre has taken on a new mission without losing sight of its cherished traditions. In the last quarter century, the centre has played an important role in the history of Western research on China. With its move to The Chinese University, the centre has entered into a new era. The old orientation can no longer suffice as its raison d'etre. It must develop into an asset for Hong Kong. However, the new orientation does not mean the centre w ill abandon its old friends. On the contrary, 15