As yet there is no archives legislation in place to ensure the integrity of records and compel central and local agencies to deposit their records with the National Archives of Cambodia within specified periods of time. Attempts have been made to persuade government ministries and agencies and provincial government offices to send records created more than 10 years ago to the NAC but, with the exception of its parent body the Council of Ministers, the response to date has been poor. Meanwhile in government departments throughout the country important records are piling up behind doors, on top of cupboards, and on balconies.

Staff of the National Archives do not yet have sufficient expertise or equipment to establish standards of good management with respect to the creation, organisation, maintenance and retirement of the current records of the government. This in turn affects efficient administration and ultimately hinders the transfer of government records to the NAC's custody.

NAC funding is sufficient only to cover basic day-to-day expenses and is inadequate for the task of purchasing the essential materials required to carry out the core activities of the NAC or meet the cost of essential repairs to the National Archives building. At the present time all such expenses must be met by foreign donors.

In any case, the National Archives building has now reached full capacity and cannot house any more incoming archives. Funds are therefore urgently required to construct a new annex in order that the NAC can effectively fulfil its role as a repository for government documents of enduring national value.

As noted earlier, the development of the NAC is susceptible to stalling since it is still heavily dependent on technical and financial assistance from overseas.