The University of Hong Kong Libraries and Jinan University Library Joint Documentation and Information Centre on Overseas Chinese Studies was established in March 1998.  By means of modern information technologies and scientific methodology, the Centre collects information on Overseas Chinese distributed worldwide which will be further examined and developed into comprehensive and systematic databases.  The Centre is managed by dedicated workers and researchers, and equipped with 586 computers, notebook computers, scanners, printers, etc.  Under the collaboration of the two Libraries, the Centre has made considerable progress.  In the past two years, the following subject databases have been developed:

1. Database on Laws and Regulations on Overseas Chinese
        It collects 1436 laws and regulations on Overseas Chinese promulgated between 1949 and 1999 by the Central Government, Ministries, Commissions, Offices as well as governments of provinces, municipalities directly under the Central Government and autonomous regions.  Among which, 360 are from Taiwan.  All the laws and regulations can be searched by various access points such as file name, government body and date of enforcement.

2. Union Catalog of Overseas Chinese Collections in Chinese and Foreign Languages
        This database has 1956 bibliographic records (with table of contents when appropriate) from the collections of University of Hong Kong Libraries and Jinan University Library.  It covers policies and affairs of Overseas Chinese, and general description, outstanding figures, societies, economies, history, culture and education of Chinese living abroad.  All the information can be searched by title, author, place of publication, classification number, ISBN, etc.  In order to further develop documentary resources of Overseas Chinese and promote resource sharing and usage, we are going to establish cooperation with other academic and research institutions with substantial holdings in this area.  These efforts will help widen the scope of our bibliographic collection to a national-wide basis and improve the quality and publicity of the database.

3. ¡¡he Cultural Phenomena of Hakkas?CD-ROM
        When the Hakka ancestors left China to settle in other places of the world, they brought along the life style, ideology, tradition and customs that formed under their unique environment.  Having merged with the marine culture during the migration, these special spiritual assets of the Hakkas have been widely disseminated overseas and imposed significant impact on local cultures. The Hakkas succeeded the traditional Chinese culture and spread it around the world.  Given this origin, the dissemination of Hakka culture also means the promotion of traditional Chinese culture.  We hope that the production of this multimedia CD-ROM database will help serve the same purpose.  The database comprises of 9 sections, namely origin and development of the Hakkas, the geographic distribution and social organizations of the Hakka ethnic group, overseas Hakkas, Hakka spirit, education of Hakkas, Hakka culture, celebrated figures from the Hakkas, Hakka women, and research on Hakkas.  The CD-ROM features 20 electronic maps on the migration and distribution of Hakkas, 4 databases, and over 300 pieces of pictures and audio-visual information.  Users can obtain both general knowledge and historical information from the CD-ROM.  It is the first multimedia CD-ROM ever produced in China on the history and culture of Overseas Chinese and their native places.  With support from various parties, the CD-ROM was published in December 1999.

 The following projects are in preparation:
1. Database on Outstanding Figures of Overseas Chinese
        Overseas Chinese is an important component of the Chinese society in foreign countries.  They spread over the five continents and various countries over the world.  None of the migrants of other countries is comparable in term of history, population and distribution.  Many of the outstanding figures among Overseas Chinese have made great achievements through unremitting efforts, and starting their own business.  Their contributions in the areas of politics, economics, culture and education are also remarkable.  The database will introduce the outstanding achievements of Overseas Chinese by extracting related news and coverage from books, newspapers, journals and dictionaries published in China and foreign countries.  The information will be collected and processed according to predetermined format and retrievable by access points such as name, place of residence, nationality, area of activity, etc.

2. Database on Education of Overseas Chinese
        Chinese language education in foreign countries refers to the education of Modern Chinese language commonly used among Chinese for the offspring of Overseas Chinese in their place of residence.  Overseas Chinese language institutions can be found all over the world and are important bases for Chinese language education as well as for promotion of Chinese culture overseas.  They play an important role in the Hanyu education of the World.  Collection and compilation of information on Overseas Chinese language institutions will provide a picture of their development and encourage the sharing of information and experience among these institutions.  It will also advocate the exchange and cooperation between the education sector of China and its overseas counterpart and that among overseas institutions, thus help promote Overseas Chinese language education in the 21st Century.  The Centre is now going to start the database on ¡¡verseas Chinese Language Institutions? which is a major part of this subject database.  The content involves both factual and numerical data (name of institution, address, date of establishment, format of teaching, number of students, etc.)  The information can be searched by name of institution (in Chinese and English), address (in Chinese and English), date of establishment and format of teaching, etc.

3. Database on Overseas Chinese Documentary Rresources
        In the past few years, a certain amount of information on Overseas Chinese and related government policies have been collected.  With a view to promoting the sharing and use of these resources among researchers and government departments, the Centre is organizing the information according to categories such as general information, Overseas Chinese affairs, politicians, economies, culture, education, technology, sports, literature, organizations, figures, historical information, etc.  Access points include classification, title, author, keyword, date and source of document, etc.

         This International Conference of Institutes and Libraries for Overseas Chinese Studies is the first international meeting of organizations on research of Overseas Chinese.  It provides a good opportunity for research units, organizations and individuals on this subject from around the world to exchange views and gain new perspectives.  We are glad to participate in this Conference.  With reference to the four topics on the agenda, our views are as follows:

(1) It is a good idea to provide an exhibition area for participants to show their research including the resources, methodology and results.  This will help give participants an understanding on the research being done on Overseas Chinese as well as a vision on the future of this discipline.  At the same time, participants can follow their own direction of research to look for space for further development and partnership for cooperation.  Our Centre will take this opportunity to present our research results by means of online database searching, CD-ROM demonstration and publicity on display boards.  We hope to establish linkage with other colleagues in this area and look for chances of cooperation.

(2) We are in full support of the establishment of union databases on the basis of mutual coordination and reasonable division of labour with other organizations.  We believe that we can make further achievement with our rich documentary resources, modern technology, broad networking channels, and the research results and working experience cumulated in the past few years.  We need to have a central coordinating organization to establish union databases and standardization of database format.  This will help avoid duplication of efforts.  It will thus be advisable to have a major responsible organization to divide the workload which can then be carried out in different geographic areas.  As regards the database on bibliography of newspapers and journals, we prefer to have individual database for each category because of their different nature of publication and search requirements.  The Union Catalog of Overseas Chinese Collections in Chinese and Foreign Languages contains 1956 records from the University of Hong Kong Libraries and Jinan University Library (with table of contents when appropriate).  We aim at extending the area of coverage to the whole nation within 3 to 5 years.  We therefore hope that the database can serve as the foundation of the China portion of the Overseas Chinese Bibliographical Database.  As regards the ¡¡atabase on Chinese organizations? we suggest to develop it by phases.  We can first start with the East Asian region, including the collection of the emblems and flags of those organizations.  For the ¡¡ollection of famous Overseas Chinese? we propose to establish criteria for inclusion in accordance with the area and period of activities.

(3) We suggest to create a column on ¡¡esearch of documentation and information of Overseas Chinese?in the Journal of Overseas Chinese Studies and Overseas Chinese Studies around the World so that research results can be exchanged on a timely basis while relevant academic institutions, research units and Overseas Chinese can obtain information products and research materials.  Another proposal is to provide information under various topics through a  ¡¡verseas Chinese Studies?web site.  With systematic organization and compilation, it is believed that the content of this web site will be enriched and it will have distinctive characteristics.  Division of labour is also recommended to avoid duplicated efforts.

(4) In principle, we support the establishment of a ¡¡orld Confederation of Institutes and Libraries for Overseas Chinese Studies? and wish to take up some projects in the collaboration such as Chinese bibliography database.  Actual commitment will depend on the availability of financial resources.

        We earnestly hope that all participants can take this opportunity to exchange experience and lay the foundation for future cooperation.  With a sincere working attitude, we trust we can make further contribution to the research and development of Overseas Chinese documentation and information.

        Our best wishes to the Conference organizers!