DCS Data Usage Policy

The Centre welcomes the use of its computerized data by all China scholars, according to the following regulations.

Datasets are restricted to academic research only. Special permission must be obtained from the Centre for any use for any non-academic purpose.
It is forbidden to duplicate, transfer, or export datasets to third parties; duplication is restricted to the user's personal use for the purposes of backup or statistical analysis.
All writings or publications based on these datasets must clearly acknowledge the Centre and submit one copy to the Centre's library. Notification may suffice in case of expensive publications.
Except as aforesaid, the Centre retains all rights in the datasets.

Researchers must apply to the Centre and submit a research outline not exceeding one page.
Before being allowed to access the data, users must sign an undertaking to abide by the terms above and pay the usage fee (unless exempted).

With the exception of CUHK faculty and students, users must pay a usage fee. The fee is set by an agreement between the Centre and the original provider of the data. Specific fees for each dataset are determined separately.
Upon request, the Centre may consider providing the applicant a sample of the dataset and the questionnaire for evaluation before application. Once the application has been accepted and the data has sent out, fees will be refunded.
The exemption of fees may be considered in case the user provides with his/her own dataset to the Centre.

The Centre reserves the right to prevent the use of any data at the Centre, including its printed materials to individuals who have failed to abide by the terms of use and to seek legal remedy.

In no event shall the Centre be held liable for any damages whatsoever arising of the inaccuracy, incompleteness or any other defects of its datasets. The Centre disclaims any warranty that its datasets fit for a particular purpose. The Centre bears no responsibility for the opinions expressed in any writings or publications based on its datasets. The user will indemnify the Centre for any legal liability to any third party or for any damage or loss caused by the use of the datasets by the user.