TOPIC

Living heritage of Hong Kong

Living heritage of Hong Kong
After seven years of research, the Hong Kong government in 2014 released a list of 480 items of "intangible cultural heritage" that best represent the city's rich culture and historical legacy. The list comprises a variety of techniques, cultural practices, local dialects and music that make Hong Kong unique.
Hungry Ghost Festival rituals are held at Wah Fu Estate in Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong, on August 31, 2025. Photo: Karma Lo
Chinese culture

Is this the end of the Hungry Ghost Festival at Hong Kong’s Wah Fu Estate?

An extensive estate redevelopment plan could spell doom for one of the city’s more notable Hungry Ghost Festival celebrations.

Chinese culture

Language Matters | What to know about intangible cultural heritage amid Hong Kong celebrations

Hong Kong society

Opinion | Forget tourist fads. Let’s better preserve, promote Hong Kong heritage

videocam
5
Hong Kong society

Hong Kong’s intangible cultural heritage to be celebrated in new annual initiative

Different types of craftsmanship, performances, traditions and rituals among activities to be showcased across the month of June.

Dragon boat racing is expected to be among the activities highlighted when the Hong Kong Intangible Cultural Month initiative makes its debut in June. Photo: Dickson Lee
Hong Kong society

Hong Kong heritage advisers back listing of temple, former hospital as monuments

Antiquities Advisory Board discusses proposal to upgrade status of Old Tsan Yuk Maternity Hospital’s main building and Kwong Fook Tsz temple.

Architecture and design

Save ‘unique’ former Hong Kong school from wrecking ball, pair say

Hong Kong Island markets in Streamline Moderne architectural style were saved so why not school in Kowloon too, architectural historian asks.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Cop29

Letters | Conflict of interest should have ruled out Azerbaijan as Cop29 host

Readers discuss protecting the legitimacy of the COP climate talks, how a hit film is tapping Hong Kong’s rich traditions and the sales of phone subscriptions to foreign domestic workers.

A driver uses his mobile phone at the electric charging station as Baku city hosts the United Nations Climate Change Conference (Cop29), in Azerbaijan, on November 14. Photo: Reuters
Hong Kong society

Why weren’t dinosaur fossils found earlier in Hong Kong? Experts weigh in

‘High chance’ more dinosaur fossils will be found on Port Island or nearby areas, professor says.

videocam
Chinese culture

Language Matters | Why Hong Kong’s fire dragon dances are so important

Events like the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance help Hong Kong’s intangible cultural heritage, including its language traditions, to survive.

Hong Kong culture

Opinion | Searching for Hong Kong’s soul? Look to its street life

Like a flower growing from the pavement, Hong Kong’s unique charm comes from those who take up space in the cracks of modernity.

videocam
Domestic workers spend the National Day holiday in Central, Hong Kong, on October 2, 2023. Photo: Sam Tsang
Hong Kong society

Hong Kong orders archaeological review of former Japanese war memorial site

Post report from 1947 states that concrete foundation is widely believed to house a sword, with its blade pointing towards Tokyo.

Construction is under way at the decades-old residential blocks Cameron Mansions, which is build on a former Japanese war memorial site. Photo: Dickson Lee
Hong Kong society

Mong Kok flower market set for partial makeover in Hong Kong renewal project

Urban Renewal Authority announces plan to redevelop flats and shops at flower market and nearby streets, with HK$2.5 billion to be spent on acquiring properties.

4
Hong Kong culture

Exhibition marking 20th anniversary of Hong Kong diva Anita Mui’s death opens

Hong Kong Heritage Museum opens the nine-month exhibition, titled ‘Timeless Diva: Anita Mui’, with 70 items on show.

videocam
Hong Kong economy

Letters | Hong Kong retail must look beyond high rent – and innovate

Readers discuss the urgent need to find a new business model to entice customers, the role of the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, and the government’s response to taxi drivers’ complaint.

People walk by a shop in Hong Kong’s Causeway Bay district in January this year. In 2018, Causeway Bay’s retail space was more expensive than New York City’s Fifth Avenue. Photo: Sam Tsang
Hong Kong housing

Opinion | Instagram-famous Choi Hung Estate’s fate demands new approach

Hong Kong’s approach to development has for too long prioritised demolishing and rebuilding instead of finding ways to preserve the city’s heritage. Choi Hung Estate has a special place in Hong Kong’s history and cries out for new ideas in urban planning.

videocam
People take photos at Choi Hung Estate on November 6. The Housing Authority reportedly plans to demolish and rebuild the 60-year-old estate that has become a tourist hotspot. Photo: Elson Li
Hong Kong tourism

Famous Hong Kong night market reopening ‘could be delayed until late November’

Organisers say original hopes of mid-November launch for revitalised night market on Temple Street under threat due to power supply and cart storage concerns.

12
Hong Kong society

Not just about secret recipes: Hong Kong restaurant wins fans with a personal touch

Ngan Lung Cafe in Lei Yue Mun Fishing Village boasts signature local fare, and owner knows most by name, tailoring dishes to suit customers.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Hong Kong society

Dragon Boat Festival returns to Hong Kong, but turnout still under pre-Covid mark

Attendance of 100,000 expected throughout day for Sun Life Stanley International Dragon Boat Championships 2023.

videocam
Rowers brave the heat to pit their skills against rivals in waters off Aberdeen. Photo: Sam Tsang
Hong Kong culture

Colourful past: AI software turns old Hong Kong photo into Central Market display

Original black and white photo of two fishmongers behind market counter restored, colourised using software trained by processing millions of images.

Hong Kong culture

No switching off Hong Kong’s bright city lights as shops replace old neon signs

Businesses ordered to remove ageing neon signs choose to keep a slice of city’s heritage alive.

Hong Kong

Editorial | Hong Kong harbour law should not be watered down

Proposals to fast track ‘minor’ reclamation works put city’s most outstanding natural feature at further risk.

A man with luggage sits on his own portable stool inside the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, as clouds roll in over Victoria Harbour. Photo: Elson Li
Hong Kong society

Cheers for move to amend Hong Kong Victoria Harbour law, but some worry about abuse

Minor waterfront projects have been held up by onerous requirements of Protection of the Harbour Ordinance.

The government plans to amend a law governing reclamation works in Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour. Photo: Sam Tsang
Hong Kong reopens

Cathay to dish out 80,000 return flights to residents of Southeast Asian countries

Carrier says it will first offer round-trip tickets to residents across Southeast Asia starting with Thailand, Singapore and the Philippines.

videocam
11
Hong Kong transport

Exclusive | Hong Kong’s own Fisherman’s Wharf? Star Ferry boss envisions buoyant future

Boss of struggling icon envisions potential amid efforts to stay afloat, promises lower fare adjustment from 100 per cent raise earlier proposed.

videocam
12
Hong Kong society

Chinese University team to study Lantau’s century-old stone cabins in Hong Kong

Team gets HK$12.5 million grant to research mountain camp’s history, educate the public and restore cabins.

Nineteen spartan stone cabins form the Lantau Mountain Camp, which dots the ridge between Sunset Peak and Yi Tung Shan. Photo: Daniel Suen
Hong Kong society

Battle of Hong Kong survivor Yeung Ming-hon dies at age 99

Field Ambulance Corps volunteer was captured by Japanese invaders and made to do manual labour.

4
Yeung Ming-hon was the last survivor of the Battle of Hong Kong still residing in the city. Photo: Jonathan Wong
Hong Kong

Opinion | What Hong Kong needs to be a truly world-class cultural hub

The city needs a soul, a guiding vision to radically improve cultural education, reorient cultural policymaking and research, and genuinely broaden cultural exchanges.

videocam
5
Hong Kong culture

Former Hong Kong courthouse to become centre for universal legal education

Society of Rehabilitation and Crime Prevention expresses confidence centre will be financially independent three years after opening in 2026.

videocam
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Help preserve 120 years of quality journalism.
SUPPORT NOW
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement