South Asians in Hong Kong
South Asians in Hong Kong Mapping Migration Stories, A Digital History Project
ARCHIVES AND SOURCES
Please find below short summaries of archives and resources offering primary material relating to South Asian migration to Hong Kong. This is not a conclusive list and we will continually update this with more information over time. For suggestions for additions to this section or if you would like to include a short summary of archives pertaining to South Asians in Hong Kong please contact us at southasianmigration@gmail.com
GOVERNMENT ARCHIVES
National Archives of UK, London.
The National Archives of the UK contain the largest number of government records in the UK pertaining to Hong Kong. This includes significant records relating to South Asian migration history. From brief searches of this material the archive includes material from the “Indian Independence League of Hong Kong”, considerable information relating to nationality and status, and material relating to imports of goods from Pakistan and India such as cotton. To search these records use the following link.
National Archives of India, New Delhi.
This archive contains interesting and underused material relating to South Asians in Hong Kong, with particularly good records relating to policing and the military, political revolutionaries, immigration and passports, and deportation and repatriation. Some of this material has been helpfully digitized and can be accessed freely after registration. Please use the following link National Archives of India Search Engine.
British Library, London.
While the majority of Hong Kong governmental records are preserved in the National Archives of the UK and the Public Records Office Hong Kong, the India Office Records are housed in the British Library in Kings Cross, London. Useful information relating to the specific histories of South Asians in Hong Kong can be found here before 1947. To search these records use the following link British Library Search Engine.
Public Records Office, Hong Kong.
The PRO offers a wide range of governmental records from Hong Kong’s past to present. During early scouting trips we have collected archival material on topics as diverse as the Indian Chamber of Commerce through to South Asian restaurants and debates around citizenship status after the partition of India. To search these records use the following link.
OFFICIAL RECORDS AVAILABLE ONLINE
Census
Record keeping relating to Hong Kong’s population and demography can be found in the Hong Kong Blue Books, censuses and other governmental records all available online. Enumerative practices and the categories deployed to measure communities from South Asia change over time, presenting some challenges. Years with especially good data include the 1911 and 1931 census which record information relating to age, birth place, occupation, place of residence and gender.
Further information coming soon.
Directory and Chronicle and Almanacs
Almanacs and directories contain lists of foreign residents and businesses, often with addresses. While these lists are not fully accurate or comprehensive, they can be useful for getting a sense of changing demographic patterns within the South Asian community and for identifying parts of the city where many members of the community lived and worked. For a useful summary and database of almanacs and business records see the following link here.
Many South Asian businesses can be located using Hong Kong Historical GIS (1900 to 1933) which has been useful for our own mapping work.
Further information coming soon.
NON-GOVERNMENTAL RECORDS
Newspapers
There is a wide array of digitized and print newspapers available documenting Hong Kong’s past which contain considerable reporting on South Asians. For a summary on the newspaper archives available online look here.
HSBC Archives
Further information coming soon
Swire Archives
Further information coming soon
University Libraries
Hong Kong’s universities contain excellent special collections and private papers. We are currently beginning work with these records in search of references to the history of South Asian students in the city.
Further information coming soon.