Hong Kong Chronicles Institute (HKCl) marked the historic launch of the first volume of the English edition of Hong Kong Chronicles in a ceremony at the Government House with the release of Overview & Chronology as part of a bilingual book series on Hong Kong's local history.

Overview & Chronology - comprising an " overview" on Hong Kong's local history and a ''chronology" of more than 6,500 major historical events spanning 7,000 years - is the first volume in the first and largest translation project of any Chinese local chronicles in history.

"The sweeping history tells the stories of Hong Kong's roots, and its political, social and economic development into the 'Pearl of the Orient' and gateway to China," said Mr Bernard Charnwut Chan, Vice Chairman of Hong Kong Foundation and HKCI Executive Committee. "Hong Kong Chronicles - both the Chinese and English versions - seeks to recover the collective memories shared by the people of our dynamic city we call home."

"It is a unique and unprecedented venture," said Prof. Elizabeth Sinn Yuk-yee, HKCI translation committee chairman and academic review committee convenor. "Being an integral part of Chinese tradition and, yet, having room to bring in new elements, is a reflection of Hong Kong's own unique position as a part of China and a key player of the global community."