Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1947 - 2023 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
2.2 m of textual records (324 folders)
25228 photographs (890 albums)
197 VHS, 173 audio cassette, 121 mini-DV, 1 Video8
12GB of digital materials (461 files)
12CD and 1 floppy disk
48 objects
Context area
Name of creator
Administrative history
The Hong Kong Federation of Women's Centres (香港婦女中心協會) (HKFWC) is a non-partisan organization that supports grassroots women and promote gender equality in Hong Kong through an array of services, education, and advocacy. It was created and operated by women, with the mission of promoting Women's rights, developing women's individual potential, advising decision-making bodies through collaborative efforts, and pioneering women-focused resources and services.
HKFWC was initially founded as a subsidiary organization of the Hong Kong Council of Women (HKCW). Following the War on Rape Campaign in 1979, the HKCW set up a Steering Committee to assess the needs and feasibility for a community centre that offers social services to grassroot women. This nurtured the establishment of the Women's Center, marked by the opening of a telephone helpline on May 5, 1981. The centre operated in the back office of former Urban Councilor, Elsie Elliot, until 1985 when it moved into the ((Lai Kok Estate (麗閣邨)** premises in Shum Shui Po. Its distinctive identity and directives eventually led to its independence from the HKCW in 1992, after which the Centre renamed to the Hong Kong Federation of Women's Centres.
Following its independence, HKFWC continued to expand its network of services to other districts in Hong Kong. In 1996, a second centre was opened in Tai Wo Estate, Tai Po (大埔太和邨). In 2014 and 2016 respectively, two new centres premiered in Fanling (Women in Self Enhancement centre) and Sheung Shui to extend the reach to North District. 2019 witnessed another milestone when Jockey Club Wah Fu Centre, the first service unit on Hong Kong Island, was set up.
HKFWC's contribution to women's welfare were recognized by governing bodies locally and abroad. In 1989, it was granted membership of the Community Chest (公益金). In 2002, it acquired Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.
To obtain charitable status with tax exemption, Hong Kong Federation of Women's Centres Limited was established in 2015. The transfer of HKFWC to the compnay limited by guarantee was completed in 2023, and the existing HKFWC formed under Societies Ordinance was dissolved.
Archival history
This archives comprises materials of two different provenance.
(1) Records created by Hong Kong Federation of Women's Centres (HKFWC): remained in their HKFWC's custody until transfer to our library.
(2) Records created by Hong Kong Council of Women (HKCW): The HKCW's records were disposited in the Hong Kong Public Records Office (PRO) in 1998 when it disbanded, of which HKCW was authorized as the custodian. This accession includes digitized files of the records in PRO's repository. Also note that some of the reocrds were donated to HKFWC by HKCW members; and original of digitized files of HKCW's annual reports between 1947-1950 are kept in the Special Collections of Hong Kong University's Main Library.
Before the donation was shipped to CHKL, Professor Patricia Chiu contributed to the packing and labeling of the materials. The archives were physically transferred to the Richard Charles Lee Canada-Hong Kong Library in 2023.
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
This archive consists of documents, photographs, newspaper clippings, publications, reference materials, audio-visual materials, and digital files created and collected by the donor. The records document the functions and impacts of the HKFCW on promoting women rights, and supporting education and socio-economical needs of women in Hong Kong from 1980s to 2020s. They also offer valuable insights into the changing perspectives about sex, family, and equality in a city sitauted in the frontier between the East and the West. This accession also includes records of the HKCW, the parent organization of HKFCW; and records of Hong Kong Homemaker Alliance, a subsidiary of HKFWC.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
Further accruals are not expected.
System of arrangement
Arranged by provenance in the top-level, and subsequently by materiality of the archives, which are also the order in which archives were received.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Open for use by appointment. Series 1 (Photographs) and Series 2 (Documents) are currently restricted for internal processing — contact Archivist for use.
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Accession Number
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Dates of creation revision deletion
AtoM records created March 07, 2026 — Jason Kahei Wong (Archivist).