Section 12: Criteria for the selection of public records for permanent preservation

(1) All non-current public records of the age of twenty-five years and above which contain-
(a) evidence of the organisation, functions, policies, procedures and transactions of the public office in which they were originally made or received; or
(b) evidence of public or private personal property rights or civil rights; or
(c) historical or general information,
are hereby declared public archives and may be transferred to the National Archives at the discretion of the Director.
(2) Where confidential or secret records transferred under subsection (1) of this section contain information the disclosure of which is, in accordance with any written law, prohibited or restricted to certain persons, punitive provisions applicable to a person employed in carrying out the provisions of that written law shall be applicable to the Director and other officers or employees of the National Archives who have access to such records.
(3) The Director shall transfer to the National Archives all non-current records offered for transfer by any public office provided he considers that such records deserve to be preserved.