A polishing composition for a memory hard disk, which comprises at least the following components (a) to (d): (a) from 0.1 to 50 wt %, based on the total amount of the polishing composition, of at least one abrasive selected from the group consisting of silicon dioxide, aluminum oxide, cerium oxide, zirconium oxide, titanium oxide, silicon nitride and manganese dioxide, (b) from 0.001 to 10 wt %, based on the total amount of the polishing composition, of at least one periodate selected from the group consisting of periodic acid, potassium periodate, sodium periodate and lithium periodate, (c) a buffer component to adjust the pH of the polishing composition to a range of from 2 to 5, and (d) water.