To establish the Hong Kong Film Archive as an internationally renowned film archive in conserving the rich film heritage of Hong Kong and facilitating research on such films.

• To acquire and conserve Hong Kong films and related materials.
• To catalogue and maintain the Archive's collection and to develop and maintain a user-friendly computer system for easy access of information.
• To provide film and related information, materials, facilities and enquiries services for film industry, interested parties and researchers.
• To enhance public appreciation of films by organizing regular thematic retrospectives, exhibitions, symposiums and seminars on films.
• To research and publish quality publications on the history of Hong Kong cinema.

• Abide by the Code of Ethics of the International Federation of Film Archives, so as to maintain the international standard of the facilities and services of the Hong Kong Film Archive.
• Manage the Archive professionally.
• To make the Hong Kong Film Archive a home for film researchers and all those interested in cinematic art.

In order to maintain a representative collection of films and film-related materials and to provide a balanced programme for public appreciation, the following selection principles and criteria for acquisition and programming are adopted. A mechanism involving the endorsement of a Programme Committee with the advice from a panel of film advisers as and when necessary is in place to determine the acceptance of acquisition, donation and programming proposals.

Criteria for Assessing Acquisition of Collection:
• Relevancy to Hong Kong films
• Historical value
• Availability / rarity
• Research value
• Physical condition
• Price
• Display value

Criteria for Assessing Public Programmes:
• Whether the programme falls into the scope of the Hong Kong Film Archive’s vision, mission and values.
• The idea, historical value, feasibility and educational value of the programme, as well as whether the estimated cost is reasonable.
• Public appeal of the proposed programme.