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Two Hong Kong Cultural Icons Named National Intangible Heritage Bearers by Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

HK

Two Hong Kong Cultural Icons Named National Intangible Heritage Bearers by Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
HK

HK

Two Hong Kong Cultural Icons Named National Intangible Heritage Bearers by Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

2025-03-17 22:02 Last Updated At:22:18

Two Hong Kong representatives selected as sixth batch of representative bearers of national intangible cultural heritage

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism announced the sixth batch of representative bearers of the national intangible cultural heritage (ICH) on March 12. A total number of 942 representative bearers of the national ICH across the country were selected, including two from Hong Kong, Mr Lau Kam-tong, bearer of Hakka unicorn dance in Hang Hau, Sai Kung, and Dr Lee Yiu-fai, bearer of the Wong Tai Sin belief and customs.

In response to the invitation of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism for nominations for the sixth batch of representative bearers of the national ICH, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government nominated Mr Lau and Dr Lee upon consulting the ICH Advisory Committee. Mr Lau and Dr Lee have been dedicated to promoting and preserving the Hakka unicorn dance in Hang Hau, Sai Kung, and the Wong Tai Sin belief and customs respectively. The HKSAR Government extended warm congratulations to the two representative bearers.

The two ICH items were inscribed onto the fourth national list of ICH and the First ICH Inventory of Hong Kong respectively in 2014, as well as the Representative List of the ICH of Hong Kong in 2017. Information on the two representative bearers are as follows:

(1) Mr Lau Kam-tong, representative bearer of the Hakka unicorn dance in Hang Hau, Sai Kung

The Hakka unicorn dance in Hang Hau, Sai Kung is a culture that has been passed down through generations among the Hakka people of the local community for more than 200 years. The Hakka people believe that the Chinese unicorn, the qilin, is an auspicious animal that can ward off evil and bring good luck. The Hakka unicorn dance is performed on all celebratory occasions such as the Chinese New Year, weddings, birthday parties, the inauguration of an ancestral hall, moving into a new home, welcoming guests, the jiao festivals, and birthdays of deities.

Mr Lau has made substantial contributions to passing on the Hakka unicorn dance culture over the past 60 years. He has been learning the Hakka unicorn dance since he was 7 years old. He established the Joint Association of Traditional Hakka Unicorn in Sai Kung and Hang Hau, Hong Kong in 2013, and has since been the chairman. He has led the community to form unicorn dance teams and arrange training courses. He has also actively promoted this ICH item in Hong Kong and on the Mainland. Under his leadership, the Hakka unicorn dance in Hang Hau, Sai Kung was inscribed onto the fourth national list of ICH in 2014.

(2) Dr Lee Yiu-fai, representative bearer of the Wong Tai Sin belief and customs

The folk religion of Wong Tai Sin originated in the Jinhua area of Zhejiang Province and was introduced into the Lingnan region at the turn of the Ming and Qing dynasties. The Wong Tai Sin belief and customs in Hong Kong can be traced back to 1915. In 1921, Sik Sik Yuen was established to manage the Wong Tai Sin Temple. After a century of inheritance, the development of the Wong Tai Sin folk religion has nowadays incorporated charity, with the "To act benevolently, teach benevolence and grant every wish" spirit actualised through Sik Sik Yuen's provision of various social services.

Dr Lee joined the Wong Tai Sin Temple in Sik Sik Yuen in 1985 and has served as the Abbot of the Wong Tai Sin Temple since 2006. Dr Lee has been devoted to promoting the Wong Tai Sin belief and customs, organising courses, publishing ritual books and establishing the Cultural Centre for Wong Tai Sin Belief and Customs in 2021. Apart from being responsible for the religious matters of Sik Sik Yuen, Dr Lee also actively participates in public service activities, and promotes the "To act benevolently, teach benevolence" spirit. Under his stewardship, the item of Wong Tai Sin belief and customs was inscribed onto the fourth national list of ICH in 2014.

The HKSAR Government will continue to preserve and promote local ICH, and encourage community participation in sustaining the development of Hong Kong's traditional culture.

Two Hong Kong representatives selected as sixth batch of representative bearers of national intangible cultural heritage  Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Two Hong Kong representatives selected as sixth batch of representative bearers of national intangible cultural heritage Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Two Hong Kong representatives selected as sixth batch of representative bearers of national intangible cultural heritage  Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Two Hong Kong representatives selected as sixth batch of representative bearers of national intangible cultural heritage Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SEE begins visit in Beijing

The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, began his visit in Beijing today (March 20).

Mr Tse visited the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences in the morning and toured facilities such as the National Crop Genebank of China, greenhouse of the Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, and the scientific research greenhouse to learn about the country's latest agro-technology developments.

In the afternoon, Mr Tse paid a courtesy call on the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (GACC) and met with the Vice Minister of the GACC, Mr Zhao Zenglian, to continue deepening exchanges on various topics such as safeguarding food supply to Hong Kong, the facilitation arrangement for exporting Hong Kong-manufactured food products to the Mainland, as well as strengthening co-operation on food trade.

During the meeting, Mr Tse expressed gratitude to the GACC for its support in safeguarding food supply to Hong Kong and its assistance in the implementation of the facilitation arrangement for customs clearance. He said that the facilitation arrangement for customs clearance, which began in May last year, has been operating smoothly and significantly shortened the time required for customs clearance of Hong Kong-manufactured food products. It was well-received by Hong Kong food manufacturing industry. Both sides expressed the hope that the facilitation arrangement for customs clearance could be applied to more food categories in the future.

Afterwards, Mr Tse met with representatives from the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People's Republic of China (MEE), the National Center for Climate Change Strategy and International Cooperation, and the BRI International Green Development Coalition to exchange views on topics including co-operation in ecological and environmental field and combating climate change. He pointed out that with the strong support from the MEE, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government achieved great success at the China Pavilion's Side Event of the 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) last year and hopes to continue telling the good stories to the world about the country and the HKSAR Government's efforts in combatting climate change through the platform provided by the COP30 this year.

Mr Tse will continue his visit in Beijing tomorrow (March 21).

SEE begins visit in Beijing  Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SEE begins visit in Beijing Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SEE begins visit in Beijing  Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SEE begins visit in Beijing Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SEE begins visit in Beijing  Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SEE begins visit in Beijing Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SEE begins visit in Beijing  Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SEE begins visit in Beijing Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SEE begins visit in Beijing  Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SEE begins visit in Beijing Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SEE begins visit in Beijing  Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SEE begins visit in Beijing Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SEE begins visit in Beijing  Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SEE begins visit in Beijing Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

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