Matthew Hurst
@mrmhurst.bsky.social
PhD student @york.ac.uk researching the influence of Hong Kong people on the handover • Studentship from WRoCAH • Graduate: @ox.ac.uk @manchester.ac.uk
Pinned
Matthew Hurst
@mrmhurst.bsky.social
· Oct 1
Hong Kong Colonial Government Migrated Archives at Hanslope Park
Following the revelation in 2011 that the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office was sitting on the migrated archives of dozens of colonial governments, almost 20,000 files were transferred from s...
doi.org
British colonial officials destroyed countless files before decolonisation. But one colony has been neglected by the literature: Hong Kong. My latest paper in @jich.bsky.social examines the past, present and future of Hong Kong colonial government migrated archives: doi.org/10.1080/0308...
I had the privilege of speaking to Points Media 棱角 about the 88,000 colonial-era Hong Kong Government files that remain withheld by the UK Government points-media.com/%e9%a6%99%e6...
Based on my recent paper published open access in @jich.bsky.social doi.org/10.1080/0308...
Based on my recent paper published open access in @jich.bsky.social doi.org/10.1080/0308...
November 14, 2025 at 6:16 PM
I had the privilege of speaking to Points Media 棱角 about the 88,000 colonial-era Hong Kong Government files that remain withheld by the UK Government points-media.com/%e9%a6%99%e6...
Based on my recent paper published open access in @jich.bsky.social doi.org/10.1080/0308...
Based on my recent paper published open access in @jich.bsky.social doi.org/10.1080/0308...
Reposted by Matthew Hurst
In today’s post, Matthew Hurst explores Hong Kong’s colonial history and ongoing challenges accessing archives. This post is written in conversation with two previous posts by June Chow.
Restricted Records: How Hong Kong Communities Lose Out When Archives Stay Closed
Britain colonised Hong Kong in the 19th century through two treaties, which lasted in perpetuity, and a lease, set to expire in 1997. Much research into Hong Kong’s colonial history relies upon rec…
activehistory.ca
November 6, 2025 at 2:40 PM
In today’s post, Matthew Hurst explores Hong Kong’s colonial history and ongoing challenges accessing archives. This post is written in conversation with two previous posts by June Chow.
Hong Kong diaspora communities are inhibited in accessing their city’s colonial history, I argue in my blog post for @activehist.bsky.social activehistory.ca/blog/2025/11...
Based on my paper in @jich.bsky.social (open access) doi.org/10.1080/0308...
Based on my paper in @jich.bsky.social (open access) doi.org/10.1080/0308...
November 6, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Hong Kong diaspora communities are inhibited in accessing their city’s colonial history, I argue in my blog post for @activehist.bsky.social activehistory.ca/blog/2025/11...
Based on my paper in @jich.bsky.social (open access) doi.org/10.1080/0308...
Based on my paper in @jich.bsky.social (open access) doi.org/10.1080/0308...
1,000+ views in less than 4 weeks!
Delighted to see that my paper ‘Hong Kong Colonial Government Migrated Archives at Hanslope Park’ has reached over 1,000 views just 26 days after its publication.
Published open access in @jich.bsky.social doi.org/10.1080/0308...
Delighted to see that my paper ‘Hong Kong Colonial Government Migrated Archives at Hanslope Park’ has reached over 1,000 views just 26 days after its publication.
Published open access in @jich.bsky.social doi.org/10.1080/0308...
October 27, 2025 at 10:49 AM
1,000+ views in less than 4 weeks!
Delighted to see that my paper ‘Hong Kong Colonial Government Migrated Archives at Hanslope Park’ has reached over 1,000 views just 26 days after its publication.
Published open access in @jich.bsky.social doi.org/10.1080/0308...
Delighted to see that my paper ‘Hong Kong Colonial Government Migrated Archives at Hanslope Park’ has reached over 1,000 views just 26 days after its publication.
Published open access in @jich.bsky.social doi.org/10.1080/0308...
Reposted by Matthew Hurst
“What’s the Trump Administration’s End Game for the National Parks?” This and other stories—on succession questions in China, the accessibility of Hong Kong's colonial archives, an Indonesian national cookbook, and more—in today's Weekly Wanderings post.
Weekly Wanderings: October 26, 2025
Thanks for joining me this week. Recommendations China Stories Chris Buckley, “In China, a Forbidden Question Looms: Who Leads After Xi?” Control over history has been exercised to an even greater …
mauracunningham.org
October 26, 2025 at 11:15 AM
“What’s the Trump Administration’s End Game for the National Parks?” This and other stories—on succession questions in China, the accessibility of Hong Kong's colonial archives, an Indonesian national cookbook, and more—in today's Weekly Wanderings post.
Reposted by Matthew Hurst
In 2011 the British Government was forced to release tens of thousands of secretly held colonial documents from its archives. But 88,000 files on Britain's last colony remain withheld from the public.
Matthew Hurst (@mrmhurst.bsky.social) on Hong Kong's colonial archive.
Matthew Hurst (@mrmhurst.bsky.social) on Hong Kong's colonial archive.
Memory Exiled
Matthew Hurst explores the 'politics of forgetting' through the missing files of the Hong Kong colonial archive.
www.historyworkshop.org.uk
October 21, 2025 at 6:01 AM
In 2011 the British Government was forced to release tens of thousands of secretly held colonial documents from its archives. But 88,000 files on Britain's last colony remain withheld from the public.
Matthew Hurst (@mrmhurst.bsky.social) on Hong Kong's colonial archive.
Matthew Hurst (@mrmhurst.bsky.social) on Hong Kong's colonial archive.
My piece for @historyworkshop.org.uk reflects on the politics of forgetting, detailing how Hong Kong’s displaced colonial archives have exiled memory to the metropole www.historyworkshop.org.uk/empire-decol...
Based on my paper in @jich.bsky.social (open access) www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Based on my paper in @jich.bsky.social (open access) www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
October 22, 2025 at 10:45 AM
My piece for @historyworkshop.org.uk reflects on the politics of forgetting, detailing how Hong Kong’s displaced colonial archives have exiled memory to the metropole www.historyworkshop.org.uk/empire-decol...
Based on my paper in @jich.bsky.social (open access) www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Based on my paper in @jich.bsky.social (open access) www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Matthew Hurst
“officials often destroyed or doctored countless files in an effort to uphold the Empire’s glorious image…. One former British colony has, however, remained absent from the literature: Hong Kong”
- @mrmhurst.bsky.social
@jich.bsky.social
imperialglobalexeter.com/2025/10/16/d...
- @mrmhurst.bsky.social
@jich.bsky.social
imperialglobalexeter.com/2025/10/16/d...
October 17, 2025 at 8:11 AM
“officials often destroyed or doctored countless files in an effort to uphold the Empire’s glorious image…. One former British colony has, however, remained absent from the literature: Hong Kong”
- @mrmhurst.bsky.social
@jich.bsky.social
imperialglobalexeter.com/2025/10/16/d...
- @mrmhurst.bsky.social
@jich.bsky.social
imperialglobalexeter.com/2025/10/16/d...
In my post for Imperial & Global Forum (@exeter.ac.uk), I compare how different colonial governments handled records towards the end of the British Empire imperialglobalexeter.com/2025/10/16/d...
Based on my paper in 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘑𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘐𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩 𝘏𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 (OA) doi.org/10.1080/0308...
Based on my paper in 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘑𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘐𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩 𝘏𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 (OA) doi.org/10.1080/0308...
October 16, 2025 at 8:58 AM
In my post for Imperial & Global Forum (@exeter.ac.uk), I compare how different colonial governments handled records towards the end of the British Empire imperialglobalexeter.com/2025/10/16/d...
Based on my paper in 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘑𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘐𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩 𝘏𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 (OA) doi.org/10.1080/0308...
Based on my paper in 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘑𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘐𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩 𝘏𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 (OA) doi.org/10.1080/0308...
Reposted by Matthew Hurst
'Once they are made public, these Hong Kong records will be invaluable to historians of Hong Kong, China and the British Empire. This cannot come soon enough.'
Just released and #OpenAccess, have a read of the article 'Hong Kong Colonial Government Migrated Archives at Hanslope Park' by Matthew Hurst: doi.org/10.1080/0308...
Hong Kong Colonial Government Migrated Archives at Hanslope Park
Following the revelation in 2011 that the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office was sitting on the migrated archives of dozens of colonial governments, almost 20,000 files were transferred from s...
doi.org
October 2, 2025 at 1:32 PM
'Once they are made public, these Hong Kong records will be invaluable to historians of Hong Kong, China and the British Empire. This cannot come soon enough.'
Reposted by Matthew Hurst
This is a fascinating article, full of detail, for anyone interested in access to government records and processes for their preservation
British colonial officials destroyed countless files before decolonisation. But one colony has been neglected by the literature: Hong Kong. My latest paper in @jich.bsky.social examines the past, present and future of Hong Kong colonial government migrated archives: doi.org/10.1080/0308...
Hong Kong Colonial Government Migrated Archives at Hanslope Park
Following the revelation in 2011 that the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office was sitting on the migrated archives of dozens of colonial governments, almost 20,000 files were transferred from s...
doi.org
October 3, 2025 at 11:00 AM
This is a fascinating article, full of detail, for anyone interested in access to government records and processes for their preservation
Reposted by Matthew Hurst
Just released and #OpenAccess, have a read of the article 'Hong Kong Colonial Government Migrated Archives at Hanslope Park' by Matthew Hurst: doi.org/10.1080/0308...
Hong Kong Colonial Government Migrated Archives at Hanslope Park
Following the revelation in 2011 that the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office was sitting on the migrated archives of dozens of colonial governments, almost 20,000 files were transferred from s...
doi.org
October 2, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Just released and #OpenAccess, have a read of the article 'Hong Kong Colonial Government Migrated Archives at Hanslope Park' by Matthew Hurst: doi.org/10.1080/0308...
Reposted by Matthew Hurst
Brilliant new research from York's @mrmhurst.bsky.social on the 88,000 Hong Kong colonial government records that remain at Hanslope Park, contributing new insights on how outgoing colonial officials handled records towards at end of the British Empire. #history
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Hong Kong Colonial Government Migrated Archives at Hanslope Park
Following the revelation in 2011 that the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office was sitting on the migrated archives of dozens of colonial governments, almost 20,000 files were transferred from s...
www.tandfonline.com
October 1, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Brilliant new research from York's @mrmhurst.bsky.social on the 88,000 Hong Kong colonial government records that remain at Hanslope Park, contributing new insights on how outgoing colonial officials handled records towards at end of the British Empire. #history
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
British colonial officials destroyed countless files before decolonisation. But one colony has been neglected by the literature: Hong Kong. My latest paper in @jich.bsky.social examines the past, present and future of Hong Kong colonial government migrated archives: doi.org/10.1080/0308...
Hong Kong Colonial Government Migrated Archives at Hanslope Park
Following the revelation in 2011 that the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office was sitting on the migrated archives of dozens of colonial governments, almost 20,000 files were transferred from s...
doi.org
October 1, 2025 at 11:51 AM
British colonial officials destroyed countless files before decolonisation. But one colony has been neglected by the literature: Hong Kong. My latest paper in @jich.bsky.social examines the past, present and future of Hong Kong colonial government migrated archives: doi.org/10.1080/0308...
Reposted by Matthew Hurst
Today’s post, by June Chow, explores the preservation of Chinese Canadian records at Library and Archives Canada. It is a sequel to a previous post by Chow published in March.
Almost Destroyed: Chinese Canadian records at Library and Archives Canada
Author’s great-grandfather on his first trip back to China to marry. Note the poor quality of the microfilm image and especially photograph. “Wong Guey Yem,” Department of Employment and Immi…
activehistory.ca
September 17, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Today’s post, by June Chow, explores the preservation of Chinese Canadian records at Library and Archives Canada. It is a sequel to a previous post by Chow published in March.
Reposted by Matthew Hurst
Brilliant to see York PhD student @mrmhurst.bsky.social win the @chinesestudies.bsky.social Early Career Researcher Prize last week for his work on the Hong Kong colonial government migrated archives at Hanslope Park - huge congrats Matthew!
September 8, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Brilliant to see York PhD student @mrmhurst.bsky.social win the @chinesestudies.bsky.social Early Career Researcher Prize last week for his work on the Hong Kong colonial government migrated archives at Hanslope Park - huge congrats Matthew!
Honoured to receive the British Association for Chinese Studies (BACS) 2025 Early Career Research Prize and present my paper as the ECR Keynote at this year’s BACS Conference. My paper examines the past, present and future of archives moved from Hong Kong to the UK
September 5, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Honoured to receive the British Association for Chinese Studies (BACS) 2025 Early Career Research Prize and present my paper as the ECR Keynote at this year’s BACS Conference. My paper examines the past, present and future of archives moved from Hong Kong to the UK
Always a pleasure to keep up-to-date with fellow @kelloggoxford.bsky.social alumni and to share my recent publications in 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘔𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘻𝘪𝘯𝘦: www.kellogg.ox.ac.uk/latest/conne...
More on 𝘈 𝘕𝘦𝘸 𝘋𝘰𝘤𝘶𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘏𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺: hkupress.hku.hk/New_Doc_Hist...
More on ‘Rethinking’: doi.org/10.1017/S008...
More on 𝘈 𝘕𝘦𝘸 𝘋𝘰𝘤𝘶𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘏𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺: hkupress.hku.hk/New_Doc_Hist...
More on ‘Rethinking’: doi.org/10.1017/S008...
September 3, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Always a pleasure to keep up-to-date with fellow @kelloggoxford.bsky.social alumni and to share my recent publications in 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘔𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘻𝘪𝘯𝘦: www.kellogg.ox.ac.uk/latest/conne...
More on 𝘈 𝘕𝘦𝘸 𝘋𝘰𝘤𝘶𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘏𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺: hkupress.hku.hk/New_Doc_Hist...
More on ‘Rethinking’: doi.org/10.1017/S008...
More on 𝘈 𝘕𝘦𝘸 𝘋𝘰𝘤𝘶𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘏𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺: hkupress.hku.hk/New_Doc_Hist...
More on ‘Rethinking’: doi.org/10.1017/S008...
A delight to present my paper ‘Hong Kong Colonial Government Archives at Hanslope Park’ at the @york.ac.uk Asia Research Network annual conference today
June 23, 2025 at 4:22 PM
A delight to present my paper ‘Hong Kong Colonial Government Archives at Hanslope Park’ at the @york.ac.uk Asia Research Network annual conference today
Reposted by Matthew Hurst
Congratulations Matthew! 🎉
You can find out more about Matthew's research and work at the Archives Centre in this brilliant blog he wrote for us last year⬇️
www.chu.cam.ac.uk/news-and-eve...
You can find out more about Matthew's research and work at the Archives Centre in this brilliant blog he wrote for us last year⬇️
www.chu.cam.ac.uk/news-and-eve...
June 17, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Congratulations Matthew! 🎉
You can find out more about Matthew's research and work at the Archives Centre in this brilliant blog he wrote for us last year⬇️
www.chu.cam.ac.uk/news-and-eve...
You can find out more about Matthew's research and work at the Archives Centre in this brilliant blog he wrote for us last year⬇️
www.chu.cam.ac.uk/news-and-eve...
Marking 𝟭,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀 of my PhD, I'm thankful to...
- My supervisors
- Support from WRoCAH, UCCL, James Jarvis Memorial Bursary & BPCS
- Editors/co-authors
- My language tutor
- @chuarchives.bsky.social, archivists & FOI assessors
- Conference organisers and Oral History Collective
And countless others
- My supervisors
- Support from WRoCAH, UCCL, James Jarvis Memorial Bursary & BPCS
- Editors/co-authors
- My language tutor
- @chuarchives.bsky.social, archivists & FOI assessors
- Conference organisers and Oral History Collective
And countless others
June 17, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Marking 𝟭,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀 of my PhD, I'm thankful to...
- My supervisors
- Support from WRoCAH, UCCL, James Jarvis Memorial Bursary & BPCS
- Editors/co-authors
- My language tutor
- @chuarchives.bsky.social, archivists & FOI assessors
- Conference organisers and Oral History Collective
And countless others
- My supervisors
- Support from WRoCAH, UCCL, James Jarvis Memorial Bursary & BPCS
- Editors/co-authors
- My language tutor
- @chuarchives.bsky.social, archivists & FOI assessors
- Conference organisers and Oral History Collective
And countless others
A delight to share some of my academic outputs and activities with my WRoCAH colleagues at our very last colloquium today
June 9, 2025 at 9:09 PM
A delight to share some of my academic outputs and activities with my WRoCAH colleagues at our very last colloquium today
Delighted to receive my contributor’s copy of 𝘈 𝘕𝘦𝘸 𝘋𝘰𝘤𝘶𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘏𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘏𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘒𝘰𝘯𝘨! hkupress.hku.hk/New_Doc_Hist...
May 23, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Delighted to receive my contributor’s copy of 𝘈 𝘕𝘦𝘸 𝘋𝘰𝘤𝘶𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘏𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘏𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘒𝘰𝘯𝘨! hkupress.hku.hk/New_Doc_Hist...
Thank you to all who attended our book talk about 𝘈 𝘕𝘦𝘸 𝘋𝘰𝘤𝘶𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘏𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘏𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘒𝘰𝘯𝘨, to our speakers Florence Mok, @adonismyli.bsky.social and @allanpang.bsky.social, and to David for support organising. More info: hkupress.hku.hk/New_Doc_Hist... (use 20CP2025 for 20% off until 21 May)
May 14, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Thank you to all who attended our book talk about 𝘈 𝘕𝘦𝘸 𝘋𝘰𝘤𝘶𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘏𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘏𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘒𝘰𝘯𝘨, to our speakers Florence Mok, @adonismyli.bsky.social and @allanpang.bsky.social, and to David for support organising. More info: hkupress.hku.hk/New_Doc_Hist... (use 20CP2025 for 20% off until 21 May)
Reposted by Matthew Hurst
💭NEW BLOG💭
Trump’s erratic actions expose the flaws in assuming political leaders behave rationally, challenging political science to confront irrational decision-making, argue Matthew Hurst and Thomas Moore
📝: shorturl.at/PckzE
Trump’s erratic actions expose the flaws in assuming political leaders behave rationally, challenging political science to confront irrational decision-making, argue Matthew Hurst and Thomas Moore
📝: shorturl.at/PckzE
May 13, 2025 at 10:31 AM
💭NEW BLOG💭
Trump’s erratic actions expose the flaws in assuming political leaders behave rationally, challenging political science to confront irrational decision-making, argue Matthew Hurst and Thomas Moore
📝: shorturl.at/PckzE
Trump’s erratic actions expose the flaws in assuming political leaders behave rationally, challenging political science to confront irrational decision-making, argue Matthew Hurst and Thomas Moore
📝: shorturl.at/PckzE